Covalent Bonding Explained Notes (O Level + IGCSE + AQA + Oxford + Edexcel)
100% Exam-Focused | Concise | Dot-Cross + Properties + Past Paper Questions | Updated 2025–2027 Syllabus
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What is Covalent Bonding? (Exam-Ready Definition)
Covalent bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between a shared pair of electrons and the nuclei of the bonded atoms. It occurs between non-metal + non-metal atoms.
Types of Covalent Bonds Asked in Exams
| Type | Structure | Examples | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Molecular | Small discrete molecules | CO₂, H₂O, CH₄, Cl₂ | Low m.p./b.p., non-conductor, insoluble in water |
| Giant Covalent (Macromolecular) | Giant lattice | Diamond, Graphite, SiO₂ | Very high m.p., hard (except graphite), non-conductor (except graphite) |
Dot & Cross Diagrams (Most Common 6-Mark Question)
- H₂ → H×H (single bond = 1 shared pair)
- O₂ → O::O (double bond = 2 shared pairs)
- N₂ → :N≡N: (triple bond = 3 shared pairs)
- CH₄, NH₃, H₂O, CO₂, CCl₄ – Must know all
Free Resources (Maximum Internal Links)
- → O Level Chemistry Formula Sheet PDF (Printable)
- → Complete Covalent Bonding Notes + Worksheets
- → Cations & Anions Identification Cheat Sheet (Free PDF)
- → Learn Periodic Table Groups 1–8 in One Song (Memory Hack)
- → IGCSE 0620 Topic-wise Solved Past Papers
- → O Level 5070 Solved Papers 2023–2025
Watch Covalent Bonding Questions Solved by Prof. Faisal
IGCSE 0620 March 2022 Paper 62 – Covalent Bonding & Structures
O Level 5070 Summer 2023 Paper 42 – Diamond vs Graphite Explained
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