9.6: Single Covalent Bonds - Chemistry LibreTexts

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Single Covalent Bonds

A covalent bond forms when two orbitals with one electron each overlap one another. For the hydrogen molecule, this can be shown as:

Electronic configuration of a hydrogen molecule
Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) ( CC BY-NC 3.0; Joy Sheng via CK-12 Foundation)

Upon formation of the \(\ce{H_2}\) molecule, the shared electrons must have opposite spin, so they are shown with opposite spin in the atomic \(1s\) orbital.

The halogens also form single covalent bonds in their diatomic molecules. An atom of any halogen, such as fluorine, has seven valence electrons. Its unpaired electron is located in the \(2p\) orbital.

Two electron orbital diagrams for fluorine. Each diagram shows 1s with two upward-downward arrows, 2s with two upward-downward arrows, and 2p with five arrows in boxes, indicating electron spin.
Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\) (CC BY-NC 3.0; Joy Sheng via CK-12 Foundation)

The single electrons in the third \(2p\) orbital combine to form the covalent bond:

Three diagrams with central positive charges (+9) surrounded by electron clouds of varying density and electrons (2e⁻, 8e⁻, 6e⁻); labeled ξ⁻, λξ⁻, 6ξ⁻; equation η = λ/ρ (ρ−1).
Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): On the left is a fluorine atom with seven valence electrons. On the right is the \(\ce{F_2}\) molecule. (CC BY-NC 3.0; Jodi So via CK-12 Foundation)

The diatomic fluorine molecule \(\left( \ce{F_2} \right)\) contains a single shared pair of electrons. Each \(\ce{F}\) atom also has three pair of electrons that are not shared with the other atom. A lone pair is a pair of electrons in a Lewis electron-dot structure that is not shared between atoms. The oxygen atom in the water molecule shown below has two lone pair sets of electrons. Each \(\ce{F}\) atom has three lone pairs. Combined with the two electrons in the covalent bond, each \(\ce{F}\) atom follows the octet rule.

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Draw the Lewis electron dot structure for water.

Solution
Step 1: List the known quantities and plan the problem.
Known
  • Molecular formula of water \(= \ce{H_2O}\)
  • \(1 \: \ce{O}\) atom \(= 6\) valence electrons
  • \(2 \: \ce{H}\) atoms \(=2 \times 1 = 2\) valence electrons
  • Total number of valence electrons \(=8\)

Use the periodic table to determine the number of valence electrons for each atom and the total number of valence electrons. Arrange the atoms and distribute the electrons so that each atom follows the octet rule. The oxygen atom will have 8 electrons, while the hydrogen atoms will each have 2.

Step 2: Solve.

Electron dot diagrams for each atom are:

Lewis electron dot diagrams for hydrogen and oxygen
Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\) (CC BY-NC 3.0; Joy Sheng via CK-12 Foundation)

Each hydrogen atom with its single electron will form a covalent bond with the oxygen atom where it has a single electron. The resulting Lewis electron dot structure is:

Lewis electron dot structure of water
Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\) (CC BY-NC 3.0; Joy Sheng via CK-12 Foundation)
Step 3: Think about your result.

The oxygen atom follows the octet rule with two pairs of bonding electrons and two lone pairs. Each hydrogen atom follows the octet rule with one bonding pair of electrons.

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