Name:
Date:
Covalent Bonding Worksheet
A non-metal atom and another non-metal
atom can bond together by sharing
electrons so that both atoms can achieve
a full outer shell. This is called covalent
bonding.
O and X can be used to
represent the electrons of the different
atoms in covalent bonding.
Example:
Draw a circle with a H in
the middle to represent a
hydrogen atom. H has
only one valence electron
so put one dot on the
circle.
Cl Cl
Draw another circle with
as H in the middle to
represent another
hydrogen atom. This time
use an X to represent the
one valence electron.
Now to represent the
covalent bond formed
between 2 hydrogen
atoms forming H2, draw
overlapping circles like a
Venn diagram and put the
dot and the X in the
middle part to show that
both atoms share the
electrons.
Instructions
It may be easiest to draw each atom individually first to work out how many
electrons will be shared.
1. Draw the circles (outer shells) and overlap them (like a Venn diagram).
2. Write the symbols of the atoms in the middles of each circle.
3. Draw the electrons for atom as dots and the electrons for the other atoms
and x.
4. Any shared electrons are drawn in the overlapping section.
5. Count the electrons for EACH atom to ensure they all now have a full outer
shell (2 electrons for the first shell and 8 for the next 2 shells).
F2
CH4
HCl
CO2
H 2S
H 2O
HF
NH3
H
H
O
Complete the chart:
Molecule
Elements
Number of
valence
electrons
Hydrogen
1
Oxygen
6
Number of
electrons
shared
Number of
shared pairs
of electrons;
Type of bond
4
2
single
H2
F2
CH4
HCL
CO2
H 2S
H 2O
HF
NH3