Chemical bonding

Why atoms bond, and the three strategies they use: ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, all driven by the push to fill the outer shell.

Atoms bond because a full outer shell is a lower-energy, more stable state. This track explains that drive, then works through the three ways atoms reach it.

Ionic bonding transfers electrons from a metal to a non-metal so oppositely charged ions attract. Covalent bonding shares pairs of electrons between non-metals. Metallic bonding pools outer electrons into a sea that flows around fixed positive ions, which is why metals conduct and bend.

What you will learn:

  • Why atoms bond: the drive to fill the shell
  • Ionic bonding: give and take
  • Covalent bonding: sharing electrons
  • Metallic bonding: a sea of electrons

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Frequently asked questions

Why do atoms form bonds?
Atoms bond to reach a lower-energy, more stable arrangement, almost always by attaining a full outer electron shell. The energy released when a bond forms is what makes the bonded state stable.
What is the difference between ionic and covalent bonding?
Ionic bonding transfers electrons from a metal to a non-metal, creating charged ions that attract. Covalent bonding shares electron pairs between non-metals, forming discrete molecules.

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