Conclusion

Atoms transfer or share electrons to obtain an electron structure with a full valence.

B4.43 Modified Bohr diagram of neon
You learned previously that noble gases are chemically stable because of their electronic structure. Noble gases all have a full valence; this is known as the octet rule. Other elements will gain or lose electrons to obtain a full valence. The resulting particles are charged and called ions. Positive ions are cations, and negative ions are anions.

You also learned that ionic bonds are formed between metals and non-metals by the transfer of electrons and that covalent bonds are formed between non-metallic atoms by sharing electrons. Both of these bonds form to create more stable electron configurations. The atoms involved will end with the same electron arrangement as the nearest noble gas.

  Watch This

How Atoms Bond @YouTube TED-Ed 


Watch this video as a review on ionic and covalent bonding.


  Interactive Activity

Ionic and Covalent Bonding @AACT


Please work through the following examples to solidify your understanding of chemical bonding. Please note that only the valence electrons are used in these diagrams (electron dot diagrams), as only the valence electrons are involved in chemical bonding.

Click on the procedure 1 tab to continue.

  1. Click on the play icon to open the interactive. The interactive can also be accessed at https://quick.adlc.ca/periodic-table2
  2. Choose elements K and F from the periodic table to bond.

    What type of bond is this combination likely to form?

    ionic bond
  3. Looking at the number of valence electrons, determine the number of atoms of each element.

    K = 1
    F = 1
  4. Click “Submit Answer.”
  5. Click the reset button: 
  6. Click on the procedure 2 tab to continue
  1. Choose elements N and Cl from the periodic table to bond.

    What type of bond is this combination likely to form?

    covalent bond
  2. Looking at the number of valence electrons, determine the number of atoms of each element.

    N = 1
    Cl = 3
  3. Click “Submit Answer.”
  4. Click the reset button:
  5. Click on the procedure 3 tab to continue

  1. Choose elements Na and S from the periodic table to bond.

    What type of bond is this combination likely to form?

    ionic bond
  2. Looking at the number of valence electrons, determine the number of atoms of each element.

    Na = 2
    S = 1
  3. Click “Submit Answer.”
  4. Click the reset button:
  5. Click on the procedure 4 tab to continue
  1. Choose elements S and F from the periodic table to bond.

    What type of bond is this combination likely to form?

    covalent bond
  2. Looking at the number of valence electrons, determine the number of atoms of each element.

    S = 1
    F = 2
  3.  Click “Submit Answer.”