Chemical Bonds

Chemical bonds are the forces that hold atoms together to form molecules and compounds. They occur because atoms seek stability by completing their outer electron shells. There are mainly three types: covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons; ionic bonds, where electrons transfer from one atom to another creating charged ions that attract each other; and metallic bonds, where electrons flow freely among metal atoms. These bonds determine the properties of substances, like their strength, melting point, and reactivity. Understanding chemical bonds helps explain how materials form and behave at the molecular level.