Covalent Bond: Definition, Meaning and Examples
Science word of the day: Covalent
Pronunciation: Coh-VAY’-lent
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Source: www.livescience.com
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Science word of the day: Covalent
Pronunciation: Coh-VAY’-lent
What it means: In chemistry, a covalent bond forms when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. These shared electrons are attracted to the nuclei of both atoms, helping hold the atoms together in a stable molecule.
Atoms contain electrons arranged in energy levels, or “shells.” The outermost shell is called the valence shell, and its electrons determine how an atom interacts with other atoms. When atoms move close enough together, their valence electrons can be shared between them, creating a covalent bond. Covalent bonding is especially common among nonmetal atoms and is essential to the structure of many substances, including water, oxygen and organic compounds.
How to use it in a sentence: When atoms share electrons in a covalent bond, they can form stable molecules that make up many of the materials and living organisms around us — including you.
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Source: www.livescience.com