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Chemical Bonding

Atoms bond to reach a more stable electron configuration, with their outermost shell closed. They do so by giving up, accepting or sharing electrons; the latter, the covalent bond, is the one that dominates Organic Chemistry.

Video: The chemical bond

Goal to achieve: the complete 1s shell of helium, which hydrogen reaches by sharing electrons and lithium by giving one up

Getting Closed Shells

Ionic crystal lattice in a ball-and-stick model

Accepting and Releasing Electrons

Energy against internuclear distance for two approaching atoms, with the equilibrium minimum at which the bond forms

Sharing Electrons

Solution being poured into a beaker, forming a yellow precipitate

Reactions between Molecules