Chemical bond facts for kids
Chemical bonds are like invisible glue that holds atoms together. Once atoms are bonded, they usually stay connected. It takes a lot of energy to break these connections apart.
Strong chemical bonds happen when atoms share or swap tiny particles called electrons. You can find chemical bonds holding atoms together in many things. They are in molecules, crystals, metals, and even in the air we breathe (like oxygen gas).
There are two main types of bonds: covalent and ionic.
- Covalent bonds form when atoms share their electrons.
- Ionic bonds happen when atoms gain or lose electrons, becoming charged particles called ions. Then, these oppositely charged ions attract each other, forming a bond.
Atoms and molecules are three-dimensional, so showing their bonds can be tricky. Chemists often use different ways to draw them.
One common way to show chemical bonds is by drawing the electrons as dots or lines around each atom. Atoms try to have a maximum of eight electrons around them. When electrons are shared to form a chemical bond, a line is drawn between the two atoms. More lines mean more bonds!
Contents
Types of Chemical Bonds
Covalent Bonds
Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons. This sharing helps each atom get a stable number of electrons, often eight, in its outer shell.
Single, Double, and Triple Bonds
Atoms can share electrons in different ways:
- A single bond means two atoms share one pair of electrons (two electrons). It's shown with one line, like H-H in hydrogen gas.
- A double bond means two atoms share two pairs of electrons (four electrons). It's shown with two lines, like O=O in oxygen gas.
- A triple bond means two atoms share three pairs of electrons (six electrons). It's shown with three lines.
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| acetylene, H−C≡C−H | cyanogen, N≡C−C≡N | carbon monoxide, C≡O |
| Chemical compounds with triple bonds |
Ionic Bonds
Ionic bonds form when one atom gives an electron to another atom. This makes one atom positively charged (a cation) and the other negatively charged (an anion). Because opposite charges attract, these ions stick together, forming an ionic bond. A common example is table salt, where sodium (Na) gives an electron to chlorine (Cl) to form NaCl.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Adduct of ammonia and boron trifluoride
See also
In Spanish: Enlace (química) para niños
