In our last topic, we looked at electrons, where they are and how they behave in the atom, and how this electronic structure and electron configurations affect the chemical behavior of elements.
Now we will expand to molecules and compounds — looking at how electrons, orbitals and electron configurations influence how atoms bond together and how elements combine to make compounds.
This look will start with a general look at bonding and some definitions before moving briefly to ionic bonding (the way in which metals and nonmetals typically combine). We will then move to covalent bonding, the way in which nonmetal atoms combine to make molecules. The discussion of covalent bonding will include Lewis dot structures, formal charge, resonance. We will then look at bond energies and how they can be used to calculate heat of reaction. Finally, we will close with a look at how Lewis dot structures can be used to determine the shape, bond angles, and polarity of molecules as well as the concept of hybrid orbitals, which will be useful if you go on to take organic chemistry.
