Bonding & StructureTopic Summary
Topic Summary: Covalent Bonding
Part of Covalent Bonding — GCSE Chemistry
This topic summary covers Topic Summary: Covalent Bonding within Covalent Bonding for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Covalent Bonding in Bonding & Structure for GCSE Chemistry with 25 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 12 of 12 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 12 of 12
Practice
25 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
Topic Summary: Covalent Bonding
Key Terms
- Covalent bond: shared pair of electrons between non-metals
- Molecule: fixed group of atoms joined by covalent bonds
- Single bond: 1 shared pair (—)
- Double bond: 2 shared pairs (=)
- Triple bond: 3 shared pairs (≡)
- Lone pair: non-bonding electron pair
Must-Know Facts
- Covalent bonding: non-metals SHARE electrons
- H needs 1 bond, O needs 2, N needs 3, C needs 4
- H₂ (single), O₂ (double), N₂ (triple)
- Strong bonds within molecules; weak forces between
- No brackets on dot-cross diagrams (no ions formed)
- Triple bond strongest and shortest