Chemical Bond: Definition

A chemical bond is the force that exists between two atoms of a molecule that binds the two atoms together. An atom may bond to one or more atoms in the molecular entity, depending on the properties of that atom which include its oxidation number and the number of valence electrons.

In a covalent bond or an ionic bond, each bond will have two electrons. The force results from the attractive forces of the two electrons found between the two atoms that is exerted onto the nucleus of each atom and the reciprocating attractive forces by the two nuclei on the two electrons.

Metallic bonding in metals is a result of each metal atom donating one or more electrons to the expanse of delocalised electrons in the metal lattice structure. The resulting positive charge on the metal atoms and the negative charges of the array of free electrons form the bonds between metal atoms. This is made possible by the overlapping of the outermost electron shell of each metal atom with a large number of neighbouring atoms.

Published on: 12 Dec 2017 at 1034.
Last updated: 12 Dec 2017 at 1034.