Principles of Bonding

Definition

The principles of bonding refer to the rules that dictate how atoms form bonds with each other. This includes understanding why certain elements bond together, the types of bonds they can form (ionic or covalent), and the properties these bonds give to compounds.

Analogy

Think about bonding like building a Lego structure. Each Lego piece (atom) has a specific way it can connect with others based on its design (electron configuration). Some pieces fit together perfectly (covalent bond), while others might need a special connector piece (ionic bond).

Related terms

Ionic Bond: A type of chemical bond where one atom gives up one or more electrons to another atom, creating ions which are attracted to each other due to their opposite charges.

Covalent Bond: A type of chemical bond where two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons, leading to a stable balance of attractive and repulsive forces.

Polar Covalent Bond: A type of covalent bond where electrons are not shared equally between atoms due to differences in electronegativity, resulting in slightly charged regions within the molecule.