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Sharing Electrons

Covalent bonds are the most important in Organic Chemistry

Atoms reach the goal of an eight-electron closed shell by sharing electrons and thus forming covalent bonds with other atoms.

Drag the atom on the right with the mouse and try to form a molecule.

What happens when two atoms approach and share their electrons? Click here for the explanation.

Table of Lewis structures of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, the halogens and sulfur, over a portrait of G. N. Lewis

Lewis Structures

Diagram of the water molecule: two covalent O–H bonds, the unshared electron pairs of oxygen and the partial charges

Covalent Structures

Carbon with its four bonds and the ball-and-stick model of methane

Carbon

Space-filling model of a long chain of carbon and hydrogen atoms

Carbon Structures without end