This key facts covers Key Facts to Memorise within Covalent Bonding for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Covalent Bonding in Bonding & Structure for GCSE Chemistry with 25 exam-style questions and 21 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 8 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key Facts to Memorise
- Covalent bonding = shared pair of electrons between non-metal atoms
- Occurs between non-metals only (both want electrons)
- Electrons are SHARED — NOT transferred (no ions form)
- Single bond = 1 shared pair (e.g., H-H)
- Double bond = 2 shared pairs (e.g., O=O)
- Triple bond = 3 shared pairs (e.g., N≡N)
- Molecules form — distinct particles with fixed composition
- Strong bonds within molecules, but weak forces BETWEEN molecules
- H needs 1 bond, O needs 2, N needs 3, C needs 4
Quick Check: Why does CO₂ have a double bond between carbon and each oxygen atom?
Carbon has 4 outer electrons and needs 4 more to reach 8. Oxygen has 6 outer electrons and needs 2 more. Each oxygen shares 2 pairs of electrons with carbon, forming two double bonds: O=C=O. Carbon gets 4+4 = 8, each oxygen gets 6+2 = 8.
Practice questions for Covalent Bonding
Which of the following best describes a covalent bond?
Explain the difference between a bonding pair and a lone pair of electrons in a covalent molecule.