8.1 - 8.2 Molecular Compounds/ Covalent Bonding

Covalent bonds are formed when electrons have a "tug of war" with each other attracting them to each other. The atom is held by sharing electrons forming a Covalent bond. The Octet Rule applies for all Covalent bonding. In the bond, electrons are trying to get the electron configuration of noble gases like Ionic bonding. For a hydrogen pair, they share the two electrons to form a hydrogen molecule. Combinations in the non-metalic elements tend to form covalent bonds. Single Covalent bonds are held by the sharing of a pair of electrons. Such as H (hydrogen atom) + another H = the single covalent bond of H:H. In "H:H", the ":" represents the shaired pair of electrons. A structural formula represents the bond using "-". For example, Fluorine has 7 valence electrons. If F+F, they still need to fill in the noble gas. so either they form together making a 14 valence electron bond, or split 7 valence electrons each. In a bond, the elements need to share valence electrons evenly with each other, thus making a covalent bond.