Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
BONDING
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
BONDING
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Chemistry
Class: SHS 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 7
Grade code: 1.2.2.LI.2
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 1.2.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.2.2.LI.2
Theme: SYSTEMATIC CHEMISTRY OF THE ELEMENTS
Subtheme: BONDING
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.
This lesson explores one of the most fundamental ways atoms connect: covalent bonding. This type of bonding is responsible for the existence of countless substances we interact with every day in Ghana. From the water (H₂O) we drink from a sachet or bottle, to the cooking gas (LPG) in our cylinders, the sugar in our kenkey, and the plastics used to make "polythene" bags and chairs – all are held together by covalent bonds. Understanding this concept is crucial to understanding the properties and reactions of a vast majority of chemical substances.
A. Why Do Atoms Bond? The Octet Rule
Atoms are most stable when they have a full outer shell of electrons, like the noble gases (e.g., Neon, Argon). For most elements we will study, this means having 8 valence electrons – this is the Octet Rule. For hydrogen and helium, stability is achieved with 2 valence electrons (a duet).
Non-metal atoms, found on the right side of the periodic table, have high electronegativity (a strong attraction for electrons). It is energetically difficult for them to lose electrons. Instead of transferring electrons (like in ionic bonding), they achieve a stable octet by sharing electrons with other non-metal atoms. B. What is a Covalent Bond?
A covalent bond is a chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged nuclei of two atoms and the negatively charged electrons that are shared between them. Key Idea: SHARING of electrons. Who is involved? Typically formed between two non-metal atoms. C. Formation and Representation of Covalent Bonds (Lewis Structures)