covalent bonding
Covalent bonding is a type of chemical bond where two atoms share electrons to achieve stability. This typically occurs between nonmetals, allowing them to fill their outer electron shells, which makes them more stable. Imagine two people holding hands: by sharing their hands (electrons), they form a stronger connection (the bond). This sharing helps both atoms attain a full outer shell, similar to completing a puzzle. Covalent bonds are essential for forming molecules, such as water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), and are fundamental to the structure of many substances we encounter daily.
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Covalent bonding is a type of chemical bond where two atoms share pairs of electrons to achieve stability. This occurs mainly between nonmetal atoms. By sharing electrons, each atom can fill its outer electron shell, which is often necessary for forming more complex molecules. For example, in a water molecule (H₂O), each hydrogen atom shares an electron with oxygen, enabling all three atoms to attain a more stable electron configuration. Covalent bonds can vary in strength and may involve single, double, or triple bonds depending on how many pairs of electrons are shared.