Chemical Bonds
Ionic
•Electrons are transferred from one neutral atom to another
•Sending atom results in positive charge = cation (think "t" = "+")
•Receiving atom results in negative charge = anion
•Most ionic compounds = salts
•Example: Na +Cl were both neutral atoms until Na tranferred an electron
to Cl. The now positive Na is attracted to the now negative Cl creating a
bond.
Covalent
•Electrons are shared
•1 shared electron = molecule
•2 shared electrons = compound with single covalent bond
•2 or more pairs of shared electrons = compound with double or triple covalent bond
•Polar vs Nonpolar
•Each atom equally shares electrons = nonpolar
•Unequal sharing of electrons = polar
Hydrogen
•Electrons are attracted
•Hydrogen atom already covalently bonded to another atom
is attracted to a positive atom
•Commonly found in DNA