covalent bond

covalent bond Chemical bond in which two atoms share a pair of electrons, one from each atom. Covalent bonds with one shared pair of electrons are called single bonds; double and triple bonds also exist. The molecules tend to have low melting and boiling points and to be soluble in nonpolar solvents. Covalent bonding is most common in organic compounds.

covalent bond A type of chemical bond in which atoms are held together in a molecule by sharing one or more pairs of electrons in their outer shells. For example, in the water molecule (H₂O) each hydrogen atom forms a covalent bond by sharing its only electron with one of the six electrons in the outer shell of the oxygen atom. Coordinate (or dative) bonds are covalent bonds in which one of the atoms supplies both the electrons. Single bonds are those in which one pair of electrons is shared; in double or triple bonds two or three pairs, respectively, are shared.

covalent bond Bond in which a pair (or pairs) of electrons is shared between two atoms. The bond is often represented by drawing a single line between the symbols of the two atoms that have bonded together. Sometimes the bonding is between atoms of different elements (e.g. hydrogen chloride, H—Cl), and sometimes between atoms of the same element (e.g. fluorine, F—F). The name ‘molecule’ is used to describe any uncharged particle containing covalently bonded atoms. See also IONIC BOND; and METALLIC BOND.