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Chapter 8: Problem 10

What is meant by a chemical bond? Why do atoms form bonds with each other? Why do some elements exist as molecules in nature instead of as free atoms?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A chemical bond is the mutual attraction between electrons of one atom and the positively charged nucleus of another atom, which holds the atoms together. Atoms form bonds to achieve stability through a full valence electron shell and to lower their potential energy. Some elements exist as molecules in nature, rather than free atoms, due to their high reactivity. Elements like hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), and chlorine (Cl2) form molecules to achieve stability and have a lower overall potential energy compared to free atoms.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of a Chemical Bond

A chemical bond is a mutual attraction between the electrons of one atom and the positively charged nucleus of another atom, holding them together. This attraction exists because the combined atoms achieve stability by sharing or exchanging their electron configurations.
02

Reasons for Atom Bond Formation

Atoms form bonds with each other for a variety of reasons: 1. To achieve stability: Atoms tend to achieve a stable electron configuration by having a full outer electron shell, also known as a valence shell. This can be achieved through gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms. This is called the octet rule, where atoms achieve eight electrons in their valence shell. 2. To lower their state of potential energy: When atoms bond together, they release energy in the process, which means their potential energy is lowered. The bonded atoms have a lower potential energy, and thus are more stable than individual, unbonded atoms.
03

Existence of Elements as Molecules

Some elements exist as molecules in nature rather than as free atoms due to the high reactivity of these elements. These elements are more stable when they form molecules by creating chemical bonds with themselves. For example, a hydrogen atom can bond with another hydrogen atom to form a stable hydrogen molecule (H2). This results in both hydrogen atoms achieving full valence shells by sharing electrons with each other. Elements such as oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), and chlorine (Cl2) also exist as molecules rather than free atoms for similar reasons. They achieve stability by forming bonds with themselves, and the molecule's overall potential energy is much lower than the respective free atoms.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Arrange the atoms and/or ions in the following groups in order of decreasing size. a. \(\mathrm{O}, \mathrm{O}^{-}, \mathrm{O}^{2-}\) b. \(\mathrm{Fe}^{2+}, \mathrm{Ni}^{2+}, \mathrm{Zn}^{2+}\) c. \(\mathrm{Ca}^{2+}, \mathrm{K}^{+}, \mathrm{Cl}^{-}\)

Write Lewis structures and predict whether each of the following is polar or nonpolar. a. HOCN (exists as \(\mathrm{HO}-\mathrm{CN}\) ) b. \(\operatorname{COS}\) c. \(\mathrm{XeF}_{2}\) d. \(\mathrm{CF}_{2} \mathrm{Cl}_{2}\) e. \(\mathrm{SeF}_{6}\) f. \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{CO}(\mathrm{C}\) is the central atom \()\)

Describe the type of bonding that exists in the \(\mathrm{F}_{2}(g)\) molecule. How does this type of bonding differ from that found in the \(\mathrm{HF}(g)\) molecule? How is it similar?

Predict the molecular structure (including bond angles) for each of the following. (See Exercises 111 and \(112 .\) ) a. \(\mathrm{ICl}_{5}\) b. \(\mathrm{XeCl}_{4}\) c. \(\mathrm{SeCl}_{6}\)

Write Lewis structures that obey the octet rule for each of the following molecules and ions. (In each case the first atom listed is the central atom.) a. \(\mathrm{POCl}_{3}, \mathrm{SO}_{4}^{2-}, \mathrm{XeO}_{4}, \mathrm{PO}_{4}^{3-}, \mathrm{ClO}_{4}^{-}\) b. \(\mathrm{NF}_{3}, \mathrm{SO}_{3}{ }^{2-}, \mathrm{PO}_{3}{ }^{3-}, \mathrm{ClO}_{3}^{-}\) c. \(\mathrm{ClO}_{2}^{-}, \mathrm{SCl}_{2}, \mathrm{PCl}_{2}^{-}\) d. Considering your answers to parts \(\mathrm{a}, \mathrm{b}\), and \(\mathrm{c}\), what conclusions can you draw concerning the structures of species containing the same number of atoms and the same number of valence electrons?
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