Though the periodic table has only 118 or so elements, there are obviously more substances in nature than 118 pure elements. This is because atoms can react with one another to form new substances called compounds (see our Chemical Reactions module). Formed when two or more atoms chemically bond together, the resulting compound is unique both chemically and physically from its parent atoms.
Let's look at an example. The element sodium is a silver-colored metal that reacts so violently with water that flames are produced when sodium gets wet. The element chlorine is a greenish-colored gas that is so poisonous that it was used as a weapon in World War I. When chemically bonded together, these two dangerous substances form the compound sodium chloride, a compound so safe that we eat it every day - common table salt!
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sodium metal | chlorine gas | table salt |
In 1916, the American chemist Gilbert Newton Lewis proposed that chemical bonds are formed between atoms because electrons from the atoms interact with each other. Lewis had observed that many elements are most stable when they contain eight electrons in their valence shell. He suggested that atoms with fewer than eight valence electrons bond together to share electrons and complete their valence shells.
While some of Lewis' predictions have since been proven incorrect (he suggested that electrons occupy cube-shaped orbitals), his work established the basis of what is known today about chemical bonding. We now know that there are two main types of chemical bonding; ionic bonding and covalent bonding.
Ionic Bonding
In ionic bonding, electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another. In the process of either losing or gaining negatively charged electrons, the reacting atoms form ions. The oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other by electrostatic forces, which are the basis of the ionic bond.
In ionic bonding, electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another. In the process of either losing or gaining negatively charged electrons, the reacting atoms form ions. The oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other by electrostatic forces, which are the basis of the ionic bond.
For example, during the reaction of sodium with chlorine:
 sodium (on the left) loses its one valence electron to chlorine (on the right), |
 resulting in |
 a positively charged sodium ion (left) and a negatively charged chlorine ion (right). |
Concept simulation - Reenacts the reaction of sodium with chlorine.
(Flash required)
Notice that when sodium loses its one valence electron it gets smaller in size, while chlorine grows larger when it gains an additional valence electron. This is typical of the relative sizes of ions to atoms. Positive ions tend to be smaller than their parent atoms while negative ions tend to be larger than their parent. After the reaction takes place, the charged Na+ and Cl- ions are held together by electrostatic forces, thus forming an ionic bond. Ionic compounds share many features in common:
- Ionic bonds form between metals and nonmetals.
- In naming simple ionic compounds, the metal is always first, the nonmetal second (e.g., sodium chloride).
- Ionic compounds dissolve easily in water and other polar solvents.
- In solution, ionic compounds easily conduct electricity.
- Ionic compounds tend to form crystalline solids with high melting temperatures.
This last feature, the fact that ionic compounds are solids, results from the intermolecular forces (forces between molecules) in ionic solids. If we consider a solid crystal of sodium chloride, the solid is made up of many positively charged sodium ions (pictured below as small gray spheres) and an equal number of negatively charged chlorine ions (green spheres). Due to the interaction of the charged ions, the sodium and chlorine ions are arranged in an alternating fashion as demonstrated in the schematic. Each sodium ion is attracted equally to all of its neighboring chlorine ions, and likewise for the chlorine to sodium attraction. The concept of a single molecule becomes blurred in ionic crystals because the solid exists as one continuous system. Forces between molecules are comparable to the forces within the molecule, and ionic compounds tend to form crystal solids with high melting points as a result.
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| Sodium Chloride Crystal | NaCl Crystal Schematic |
Covalent Bonding
The second major type of atomic bonding occurs when atoms share electrons. As opposed to ionic bonding in which a complete transfer of electrons occurs, covalent bonding occurs when two (or more) elements share electrons. Covalent bonding occurs because the atoms in the compound have a similar tendency for electrons (generally to gain electrons). This most commonly occurs when two nonmetals bond together. Because both of the nonmetals will want to gain electrons, the elements involved will share electrons in an effort to fill their valence shells. A good example of a covalent bond is that which occurs between two hydrogen atoms. Atoms of hydrogen (H) have one valence electron in their first electron shell. Since the capacity of this shell is two electrons, each hydrogen atom will "want" to pick up a second electron. In an effort to pick up a second electron, hydrogen atoms will react with nearby hydrogen (H) atoms to form the compound H2. Because the hydrogen compound is a combination of equally matched atoms, the atoms will share each other's single electron, forming one covalent bond. In this way, both atoms share the stability of a full valence shell.
The second major type of atomic bonding occurs when atoms share electrons. As opposed to ionic bonding in which a complete transfer of electrons occurs, covalent bonding occurs when two (or more) elements share electrons. Covalent bonding occurs because the atoms in the compound have a similar tendency for electrons (generally to gain electrons). This most commonly occurs when two nonmetals bond together. Because both of the nonmetals will want to gain electrons, the elements involved will share electrons in an effort to fill their valence shells. A good example of a covalent bond is that which occurs between two hydrogen atoms. Atoms of hydrogen (H) have one valence electron in their first electron shell. Since the capacity of this shell is two electrons, each hydrogen atom will "want" to pick up a second electron. In an effort to pick up a second electron, hydrogen atoms will react with nearby hydrogen (H) atoms to form the compound H2. Because the hydrogen compound is a combination of equally matched atoms, the atoms will share each other's single electron, forming one covalent bond. In this way, both atoms share the stability of a full valence shell.
Concept simulation - Recreates covalent bonding between hydrogen atoms.
(Flash required)
Unlike ionic compounds, covalent molecules exist as true molecules. Because electrons are shared in covalent molecules, no full ionic charges are formed. Thus covalent molecules are not strongly attracted to one another. As a result, covalent molecules move about freely and tend to exist as liquids or gases at room temperature.
Multiple Bonds: For every pair of electrons shared between two atoms, a single covalent bond is formed. Some atoms can share multiple pairs of electrons, forming multiple covalent bonds. For example, oxygen (which has six valence electrons) needs two electrons to complete its valence shell. When two oxygen atoms form the compound O2, they share two pairs of electrons, forming two covalent bonds.
Lewis Dot Structures: Lewis dot structures are a shorthand to represent the valence electrons of an atom. The structures are written as the element symbol surrounded by dots that represent the valence electrons. The Lewis structures for the elements in the first two periods of the periodic table are shown below.
 | Lewis Dot Structures |  | ||||||
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Lewis structures can also be used to show bonding between atoms. The bonding electrons are placed between the atoms and can be represented by a pair of dots or a dash (each dash represents one pair of electrons, or one bond). Lewis structures for H2 and O2 are shown below.
| H2 | H:H | or | H-H |
| O2 |  |  |
Polar and Nonpolar Covalent Bonding
There are, in fact, two subtypes of covalent bonds. The H2 molecule is a good example of the first type of covalent bond, the nonpolar bond. Because both atoms in the H2 molecule have an equal attraction (or affinity) for electrons, the bonding electrons are equally shared by the two atoms, and a nonpolar covalent bond is formed. Whenever two atoms of the same element bond together, a nonpolar bond is formed.
There are, in fact, two subtypes of covalent bonds. The H2 molecule is a good example of the first type of covalent bond, the nonpolar bond. Because both atoms in the H2 molecule have an equal attraction (or affinity) for electrons, the bonding electrons are equally shared by the two atoms, and a nonpolar covalent bond is formed. Whenever two atoms of the same element bond together, a nonpolar bond is formed.
A polar bond is formed when electrons are unequally shared between two atoms. Polar covalent bonding occurs because one atom has a stronger affinity for electrons than the other (yet not enough to pull the electrons away completely and form an ion). In a polar covalent bond, the bonding electrons will spend a greater amount of time around the atom that has the stronger affinity for electrons. A good example of a polar covalent bond is the hydrogen-oxygen bond in the water molecule.
 Water molecules contain two hydrogen atoms (pictured in red) bonded to one oxygen atom (blue). Oxygen, with six valence electrons, needs two additional electrons to complete its valence shell. Each hydrogen contains one electron. Thus oxygen shares the electrons from two hydrogen atoms to complete its own valence shell, and in return shares two of its own electrons with each hydrogen, completing the H valence shells. |
The primary difference between the H-O bond in water and the H-H bond is the degree of electron sharing. The large oxygen atom has a stronger affinity for electrons than the small hydrogen atoms. Because oxygen has a stronger pull on the bonding electrons, it preoccupies their time, and this leads to unequal sharing and the formation of a polar covalent bond.
The Dipole
Because the valence electrons in the water molecule spend more time around the oxygen atom than the hydrogen atoms, the oxygen end of the molecule develops a partial negative charge (because of the negative charge on the electrons). For the same reason, the hydrogen end of the molecule develops a partial positive charge. Ions are not formed; however, the molecule develops a partial electrical charge across it called a dipole. The water dipole is represented by the arrow in the pop-up animation (above) in which the head of the arrow points toward the electron dense (negative) end of the dipole and the cross resides near the electron poor (positive) end of the molecule.
Because the valence electrons in the water molecule spend more time around the oxygen atom than the hydrogen atoms, the oxygen end of the molecule develops a partial negative charge (because of the negative charge on the electrons). For the same reason, the hydrogen end of the molecule develops a partial positive charge. Ions are not formed; however, the molecule develops a partial electrical charge across it called a dipole. The water dipole is represented by the arrow in the pop-up animation (above) in which the head of the arrow points toward the electron dense (negative) end of the dipole and the cross resides near the electron poor (positive) end of the molecule.
Chemical Reactions
The reaction of two or more elements together results in the formation of a chemical bond between atoms and the formation of a chemical compound (see our Chemical Bonding module). But why do chemicals react together? The reason has to do with the participating atoms' electron configurations (see our The Periodic Table of Elements module).
In the late 1890s, the Scottish chemist Sir William Ramsay discovered the elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon. These elements, along with radon, were placed in group VIIIA of the periodic table and nicknamed inert (or noble) gases because of their tendency not to react with other elements (see our Periodic Table page). The tendency of the noble gases to not react with other elements has to do with their electron configurations. All of the noble gases have full valence shells; this configuration is a stable configuration and one that other elements try to achieve by reacting together. In other words, the reason atoms react with each other is to reach a state in which their valence shell is filled.
Let's look at the reaction of sodium with chlorine. In their atomic states, sodium has one valence electron and chlorine has seven.
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| Sodium | Chlorine |
Chlorine, with seven valence electrons, needs one additional electron to complete its valence shell with eight electrons. Sodium is a little bit trickier. At first it appears that sodium needs seven additional electrons to complete its valence shell. But this would give sodium a -7 electrical charge and make it highly imbalanced in terms of the number of electrons (negative charges) relative to the number of protons (positive charges). As it turns out, it is much easier for sodium to give up its one valence electron and become a +1 ion. In doing so, the sodium atom empties its third electron shell and now the outermost shell that contains electrons, its second shell, is filled - agreeing with our earlier statement that atoms react because they are trying to fill their valence shell.
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Sodium Chloride |
This trait, the tendency to lose electrons when entering into chemical reactions, is common to all metals. The number of electrons metal atoms will lose (and the charge they will take on) is equal to the number of electrons in the atom's valence shell. For all of the elements in group A of the periodic table, the number of valence electrons is equal to the group number (see our Periodic Table page).
Nonmetals, by comparison, tend to gain electrons (or share them) to complete their valence shells. For all of the nonmetals, except hydrogen and helium, their valence shell is complete with eight electrons. Therefore, nonmetals gain electrons corresponding to the formula = 8 - (group #). Chlorine, in group 7, will gain 8 - 7 = 1 electron and form a -1 ion.
Hydrogen and helium only have electrons in their first electron shell. The capacity of this shell is two. Thus helium, with two electrons, already has a full valence shell and falls into the group of elements that tend not to react with others, the noble gases. Hydrogen, with one valence electron, will gain one electron when forming a negative ion. However, hydrogen and the elements on the periodic table labeled metalloids, can actually form either positive or negative ions corresponding to the number of valence electrons they have. Thus hydrogen will form a +1 ion when it loses its one electron and a -1 ion when it gains one electron.
Reaction Energy
All chemical reactions are accompanied by a change in energy. Some reactions release energy to their surroundings (usually in the form of heat) and are called exothermic. For example, sodium and chlorine react so violently that flames can be seen as the exothermic reaction gives off heat. On the other hand, some reactions need to absorb heat from their surroundings to proceed. These reactions are called endothermic. A good example of an endothermic reaction is that which takes place inside of an instant '"cold pack." Commercial cold packs usually consist of two compounds - urea and ammonium chloride in separate containers within a plastic bag. When the bag is bent and the inside containers are broken, the two compounds mix together and begin to react. Because the reaction is endothermic, it absorbs heat from the surrounding environment and the bag gets cold.
All chemical reactions are accompanied by a change in energy. Some reactions release energy to their surroundings (usually in the form of heat) and are called exothermic. For example, sodium and chlorine react so violently that flames can be seen as the exothermic reaction gives off heat. On the other hand, some reactions need to absorb heat from their surroundings to proceed. These reactions are called endothermic. A good example of an endothermic reaction is that which takes place inside of an instant '"cold pack." Commercial cold packs usually consist of two compounds - urea and ammonium chloride in separate containers within a plastic bag. When the bag is bent and the inside containers are broken, the two compounds mix together and begin to react. Because the reaction is endothermic, it absorbs heat from the surrounding environment and the bag gets cold.
Reactions that proceed immediately when two substances are mixed together (such as the reaction of sodium with chlorine or urea with ammonium chloride) are called spontaneous reactions. Not all reactions proceed spontaneously. For example, think of a match. When you strike a match you are causing a reaction between the chemicals in the match head and oxygen in the air. The match won't light spontaneously, though. You first need to input energy, which is called the activation energy of the reaction. In the case of the match, you supply activation energy in the form of heat by striking the match on the matchbook; after the activation energy is absorbed and the reaction begins, the reaction continues until you either extinguish the flame or you run out of material to react.
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Chemical Equations
Chemical reactions happen all around us: when we light a match, start a car, eat dinner, or walk the dog. A chemical reaction is the process by which substances bond together (or break bonds) and, in doing so, either release or consume energy (see our Chemical Reactions module). A chemical equation is the shorthand that scientists use to describe a chemical reaction. Let's take the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water as an example. If we had a container of hydrogen gas and burned this in the presence of oxygen, the two gases would react together, releasing energy, to form water. To write the chemical equation for this reaction, we would place the substances reacting (the reactants) on the left side of an equation with an arrow pointing to the substances being formed on the right side of the equation (the products). Given this information, one might guess that the equation for this reaction is written:
H + O 
H2O
H2OThe plus sign on the left side of the equation means that hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) are reacting. Unfortunately, there are two problems with this chemical equation. First, because atoms like to have full valence shells, single H or O atoms are rare. In nature, both hydrogen and oxygen are found as diatomic molecules, H2 and O2, respectively (in forming diatomic molecules the atoms share electrons and complete their valence shells). Hydrogen gas, therefore, consists of H2 molecules; oxygen gas consists of O2. Correcting our equation we get:
H2 + O2 H2O
H2OBut we still have one problem. As written, this equation tells us that one hydrogen molecule (with two H atoms) reacts with one oxygen molecule (two O atoms) to form one water molecule (with two H atoms and one O atom). In other words, we seem to have lost one O atom along the way! To write a chemical equation correctly, the number of atoms on the left side of a chemical equation has to be precisely balanced with the atoms on the right side of the equation. How does this happen? In actuality, the O atom that we "lost" reacts with a second molecule of hydrogen to form a second molecule of water. During the reaction, the H-H and O-O bonds break and H-O bonds form in the water molecules, as seen in the simulation below.
Concept simulation - Reenacts the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in formation of water.
(Flash required)
The balanced equation is therefore written:
2H2 + O2 2H2O
2H2OIn writing chemical equations, the number in front of the molecule's symbol (called a coefficient) indicates the number of molecules participating in the reaction. If no coefficient appears in front of a molecule, we interpret this as meaning one.
In order to write a correct chemical equation, we must balance all of the atoms on the left side of the reaction with the atoms on the right side. Let's look at another example. If you use a gas stove to cook your dinner, chances are that your stove burns natural gas, which is primarily methane. Methane (CH4) is a molecule that contains four hydrogen atoms bonded to one carbon atom. When you light the stove, you are supplying the activation energy to start the reaction of methane with oxygen in the air. During this reaction, chemical bonds break and re-form and the products that are produced are carbon dioxide and water vapor (and, of course, light and heat that you see as the flame). The unbalanced chemical equation would be written:
CH4(methane) + O2(oxygen) CO2(carbon dioxide) + H2O(water)
CO2(carbon dioxide) + H2O(water) Look at the reaction atom by atom. On the left side of the equation we find one carbon atom, and one on the right.
| C | H4 | + | O2 | | C | O2 | + | H2 | O |
| ^ | 1 carbon | ^ | 1 carbon | ||||||
Next we move to hydrogen: There are four hydrogen atoms on the left side of the equation, but only two on the right.
| C | H4 | + | O2 | | C | O2 | + | H2 | O |
| ^ | 4 hydrogen | ^ | 2 hydrogen | ||||||
Therefore, we must balance the H atoms by adding the coefficient "2" in front of the water molecule (you can only change coefficients in a chemical equation, not subscripts). Adding this coefficient we get:
| C | H4 | + | O2 | | C | O2 | + | 2H2 | O |
| ^ | 4 hydrogen | ^ | 4 hydrogen | ||||||
What this equation now says is that two molecules of water are produced for every one molecule of methane consumed. Moving on to the oxygen atoms, we find two on the left side of the equation, but a total of four on the right side (two from the CO2 molecule and one from each of two water molecules H2O).
| C | H4 | + | O2 | | C | O2 | + | 2H2 | O |
| ^ 2 | oxygen | ^ 4 | oxygen | ^ | |||||
To balance the chemical equation we must add the coefficient "2" in front of the oxygen molecule on the left side of the equation, showing that two oxygen molecules are consumed for every one methane molecule that burns.
| C | H4 | + | 2O2 | | C | O2 | + | 2H2 | O |
| ^ 4 | oxygen | ^ 4 | oxygen | ^ | |||||
Dalton's law of definite proportions holds true for all chemical reactions (see our Matter module). In essence, this law states that a chemical reaction always proceeds according to the ratio defined by the balanced chemical equation. Thus, you can interpret the balanced methane equation above as reading, "one part methane reacts with two parts oxygen to produce one part carbon dioxide and two parts water." This ratio always remains the same. For example, if we start with two parts methane, then we will consume four parts O2 and generate two parts CO2 and four parts H2O. If we start with excess of any of the reactants (e.g., five parts oxygen when only one part methane is available), the excess reactant will not be consumed:
| C | H4 | + | 5O2 | | C | O2 | + | 2H2 | O | + | 3O2 |
Excess reactants will not be consumed. | |||||||||||
In the example seen above, 3O2 had to be added to the right side of the equation to balance it and show that the excess oxygen is not consumed during the reaction. In this example, methane is called the limiting reactant.
Although we have discussed balancing equations in terms of numbers of atoms and molecules, keep in mind that we never talk about a single atom (or molecule) when we use chemical equations. This is because single atoms (and molecules) are so tiny that they are difficult to isolate. Chemical equations are discussed in relation to the number of moles of reactants and products used or produced (see our The Mole module). Because the mole refers to a standard number of atoms (or molecules), the term can simply be substituted into chemical equations. Thus, the balanced methane equation above can also be interpreted as reading, "one mole of methane reacts with two moles of oxygen to produce one mole of carbon dioxide and two moles of water."
Conservation of Matter
The law of conservation of matter states that matter is neither lost nor gained in traditional chemical reactions; it simply changes form. Thus, if we have a certain number of atoms of an element on the left side of an equation, we have to have the same number on the right side. This implies that mass is also conserved during a chemical reaction. The water reaction, for example:
The law of conservation of matter states that matter is neither lost nor gained in traditional chemical reactions; it simply changes form. Thus, if we have a certain number of atoms of an element on the left side of an equation, we have to have the same number on the right side. This implies that mass is also conserved during a chemical reaction. The water reaction, for example:
| 2H2 | + | O2 | | 2H2O |
 | + |  | |  |
| 2 * 2.02g | + | 32.00g | = | 2 * 18.02g |
The total mass of the reactants, 36.04g, is exactly equal to the total mass of the products, 36.04g (if you are confused about these molecular weights, you should review the The Mole lesson). This holds true for all balanced chemical equations.
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