Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
BONDING
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BONDING
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Subject: Chemistry
Class: SHS 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 8
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
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Welcome, future scientists and engineers! Today, we delve into the world of covalent bonding, the force that holds together many of the substances we interact with every single day. Think about the water (H₂O) we drink, the sugar (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) we use to sweeten our kenkey, the cooking gas (C₃H₈) in our kitchens, and even the plastic bags ("polythene") used in our markets. All of these are held together by covalent bonds. Understanding this type of bonding is fundamental to understanding the properties of materials and the chemical reactions that sustain life and power our industries.
Part A: The Foundation of Covalent Bonding
What is a Covalent Bond? Atoms form bonds to achieve a more stable electron configuration, usually a full outer shell of electrons (the octet rule, or a duet for hydrogen).
In ionic bonding, a metal *transfers* electrons to a non-metal. But what happens when two non-metals react? For example, two chlorine atoms or a hydrogen and an oxygen atom? Non-metals have high electronegativity, meaning they all strongly attract electrons. None of them is willing to give up an electron.
The solution is to share electrons.