Questions tagged [covalent-compounds]

For questions about covalent compounds - which are compounds in which all intermolecular bonds between atoms are considered mostly covalent - have a stronger covalent than ionic or metallic component. This tag is not to be confused with [bond].

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Why does C2H3Li + HBr go to completion but C2H3Na + HBr doesn't? [closed]

The reaction between $\ce{C2H3Li + HBr}$ forms lithium and bromoethane, just like $\ce{C2H4 + HBrC}$ forms bromoethane. However, $\ce{C2H4NaBr}$ and $\ce{C2H4KBr}$ does not seem to exist? I'm assuming ...
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Why doesn't SO2 have dative (coordinate) covalent bonds? It is easier to explain SO2 in that way [closed]

Why doesn't SO2 have dative (coordinate) covalent bonds? How do we know that it is the case? It is easier to explain SO2 with a dative covalent bond rather than saying S's valency shell expands. Why ...
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Query regarding sharing of electrons in a double covalent bond between two atoms

How does equal sharing of electrons work in a double covalent bond between two atoms? Let's take O2 as an example: The oxygen atoms share 2 electrons. This means that they now both have 8. If the ...
-2 votes
0 answers
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Distinction between Ionic and Covalent Bonds? [duplicate]

I've read that all bonds consist of both Ionic and Covalent characters to some degree and that there is no clear distinction between the two. However, I want to research this more and cannot determine ...
-3 votes
1 answer
57 views

Why do stable covalent compounds react with water [closed]

I am curious why a discrete covalent molecular substance, say CO2, would react with water to form an acid, what happens in such a reaction? I'm assuming it has something to do with disassociated ions ...
0 votes
2 answers
80 views

Do two atoms 'participating' in a single covalent bond rotate in only one direction, without rotating the entire molecule?

A Biology textbook stated that, "single bonds allow the atoms they join to rotate freely about the bond axis". This definition is not clear enough for me to answer the question, "do two ...
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How can atoms get very close together even without direct covalent bonds between them? [closed]

Generally speaking, because of the Pauli exclusion principle, it’s difficult for the electron clouds of two atoms to overlap unless they are covalently bound together. The degree of overlap can be ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Compare the covalent character of ZnCl2, CdCl2,HgCl2

I want to know how to arrange the covalent character of ZnCl2, CdCl2, and HgCl2. By Fajans' rules, We know that a smaller cation equals higher covalent character. We also know that atomic size ...
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3 votes
1 answer
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Covalent character of bonds in uranium hexafluoride

In one of the questions in a qualifying exam it said that $\ce{UF6}$ is a "covalent compound". This fits the physical properties of the compound well, e.g. low boiling point, existence as ...
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2 answers
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Why does carbon dioxide forms simple molecular structure, but silicon dioxide forms giant covalent structure? [duplicate]

I was wondering about this in class, drawing the structures of carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide. Carbon and silicon are both in Group 4/14, but coming up with oxygen, one can only form a simple ...
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Covalent compounds-What are the reasons for attraction between atoms to be strong...? [duplicate]

In general, most of the covalent compounds are known to have low boiling point and melting point due to the weak Van der Waals forces between molecules in them, requiring lesser heat to break the bond....
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1 answer
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If sulfur is directly below oxygen on the periodic table, why isn't SO the most common sulfur oxide? Instead of third, behind SO2 and SO3? [closed]

Chalcogen like oxygen and sulfur want to 'grab' (or share) two electrons to get to eight, if possible, or maybe 'give up' (or share) six, if necessary, to again get to eight... Right? So, why is ...
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-1 votes
2 answers
286 views

Why covalently bonded molecules have strong bonds within the molecule?

While studying the chapter carbon and it's compounds in NCERT page 60 I came across this line: Covalently bonded molecules are seen to have strong bonds within the molecule but intermolecular forces ...
-4 votes
2 answers
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Why do non-metals not form Ionic bonds(Ti-C, Sc-P) and instead form covalent compounds? [closed]

Is there something like, "sharing or gaining electrons gets harder", or is there something that lays hidden from common sight? I am looking for a High-School Level Answer, pls something ...
0 votes
2 answers
154 views

Can there be a molecule where every atom is covalently bonded to every other atom? [closed]

I was wondering if muliple atoms could bond in a ring, but share a pair of electrons with every other atom in the molecule so that every atom is connected to every other atom. Would it be possible for ...
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3 votes
2 answers
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Why aren't ionic crystals stronger than diamond?

If ionic bonds are stronger than covalent bonds, then why aren't ionic crystals stronger than diamond, which is bonded by covalent bonds? Diamond has tetrahedral structure with carbons forming ...
-1 votes
2 answers
426 views

Why are group 13 compounds in the +1 oxidation state more ionic than those in the +3 oxidation state?

I know that for group 13 metals in the p block, the stability of +1 OS is generally more than the stability of +3 OS as it is energetically not favourable to attain the higher OS of +3 and such ions ...
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4 votes
1 answer
185 views

Can two noble gases attract each other?

If two hydrogen atoms are far apart, they have no effect on one another. But as they are bought closer together, they begin to excerpt an effect. The two nuclei, having the same positive charge, repel ...
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1 answer
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What are the Ionic Properties of Co-ordinate Covalent Bonds? [closed]

In my 10th grade book, it says that A coordinate bond has properties of both covalent and ionic bonds. Therefore, it is also called dative or co-ionic bonds. I understand that it has properties of ...
0 votes
1 answer
143 views

If bond types are in reality intermixed, how come different bonds form completely different structures?

According to the bond triangle, compounds don't exist as solely ionic or solely covalent, but rather have ionic, covalent, and metallic character to them. So each bond type is connected and similar in ...
1 vote
1 answer
583 views

What exactly is giant covalent molecule?

What exactly is the definition of "giant covalent molecule"? All sources online don't give a definition but instead, allude to properties of examples of giant covalent molecules (such as ...
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Distribution of Valence Electrons [closed]

I'm fairly confused over just how electrons are distributed in a molecule according to the lewis structure. The octet rule states that atoms have a tendency to have 8 electrons in their valence shell. ...
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How big a role does electron repulsion play in regard to the bond length of a covalent bond? [duplicate]

In a covalent bond, there are several forces acting together to determine the bond length. Electron-electron repulsion increases the bond length. Proton-proton repulsion increases the bond length. ...
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4 votes
2 answers
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Does lithium form ionic hydride? [duplicate]

It is stated in my chemistry textbook that lithium indeed forms lithium hydrides. However, significant covalent characters could be found in lithium hydrides (like least reactivity). But in some other ...
-3 votes
1 answer
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Comparing covalent characters of two halides of group 15

Which is more covalent : NCl3 or PCl5 and why? This question was asked on a test, and the given answer was NCl3. Shouldn’t PCl5 be more covalent since pentahalides are more covalent than trihalides?
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Why does steam store large amounts of energy?

We all know that steam can be used to perform mechanical work and steam has a high capacity for energy storage. But why does steam have such high energy capacity? I tried searching for answers on the ...
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1 answer
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Why can covalent compounds dissolve in organic solvents? [closed]

Why can covalent compounds dissolve in organic solvents? I researched about it a little and I found an article which said: "Mostly all organic compounds are non-polar in nature. Also, covalent ...
4 votes
3 answers
129 views

How are compounds within a complicated mixture detected?

I was reading an article about an independent pharmaceutical watchdog group called Valisure which recently released a report stating that they found Benzene, a toxic substance, in many bottles of ...
-2 votes
1 answer
124 views

Lone pairs of electrons and covalent bonding [closed]

Every time I saw a covalent bond structure, I notice that there are always lone pairs or no electrons left in the outer shell of the atoms. Is it compulsory for covalent bonds to have lone pairs or no ...
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0 answers
23 views

How do bond electrons covers both atoms in covalent bond? [duplicate]

I want to know how bonding electrons behave when they have to cover for both atoms. Electrons can spin around only one atom right? If so, then what happens when a covalent bond forms? Let's say we ...
-1 votes
2 answers
116 views

Is this analogy right? [closed]

Is my logic correct in this case ? Since the formal charge represents the charge the element possess in a covalent compounds, is it right to say that formal charge is the equivalent term for covalent ...
2 votes
0 answers
134 views

Is Polyethylene Glycol always derived from Ethylene Glycol? If not, how does it differ?

I have heard Polyethylene Glycol is derived from Ethylene Glycol, so was doing some research to see how they differ and found this. Now this states that: Polyethylene glycol is produced from the ...
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4 votes
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Dielectric constant for gases possessing van der Waals forces [closed]

I've learnt that water can dissolve ionic bonds because it possesses a high dielectric constant. In the cases of covalent compounds (especially the non-polar covalent compounds), where the molecules ...
2 votes
1 answer
999 views

How can I know which molecule is more stable when bond order it's equal?

So, I was wondering, I have these molecules $\ce{O^+2}$, $\ce{O^-2}$, $\ce{O2}$ and $\ce{C^+2}$. When I try to find their bond order and their magnetic nature I get this: $\ce{O^+2} = \frac{1}{2} \...
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5 votes
1 answer
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Does boron form compounds without covalent bonds?

I have read that boron, due to the very high sum of its first three ionization energies, it is not able to form its +3 ions, and thus it generally forms only covalent compounds. But in a popular ...
-1 votes
1 answer
304 views

How to determine what covalent compound a substance is?

I have been given a substance which is unknown in my class. The substance is white in colour and is in a powder form. I have conducted a few tests and have found out that the substance is a covalent ...
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1 vote
0 answers
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What kind of bond exists between a metal and a non-metal with a difference in electronegativity of less than 1.7? [duplicate]

I'm being taught that the kind of bonds that exist between elements depends on the electronegativity difference between the elements. A difference less than 1.7 is covalent and a difference higher ...
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1 answer
340 views

How is dipole moment of ammonia less than sulphur dioxide? [closed]

Sulphur dioxide has only two bonds at 180º so shouldn't the dipole moment of molecule be 0 and as ammonia has 1 lone pair so it's dipole can't be 0 so how Sulphur dioxide has more dipole moment than ...
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0 votes
1 answer
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If Electronegativity of Cl is greater than H2 then why is the bond angle of Cl2O greater than H2O? [duplicate]

If Electronegativity of Cl is greater than H2 then why is the bond angle of Cl2O greater than H2O? Cl2 has more EN than H2 and size of Cl2 is more than H2 but if we go according to EN then more angle ...
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0 votes
1 answer
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Despite being less reactive,alkanes are highly flammable [closed]

I read in my book that alkanes are saturated compunds and the valencies of carbon are satisfied by single bonds. I knew that propane and butane are highly flammable and could cause explosion. My ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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The order of increasing covalent nature in group 12 (Zn, Cd and Hg)

Suppose $\ce{Zn}$, $\ce{Cd}$ and $\ce{Hg}$ were to form a bond with the same element; say $\ce{ZnCl2}$, $\ce{CdCl2}$ and $\ce{HgCl2}$ Then which of the compounds would be showing most covalent ...
2 votes
1 answer
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How many covalent bonds are there in carbon suboxide?

Calculate the number of covalent bonds in $\ce{C3O2}$. Structure: I am confused. I can count covalent bonds as 8 by counting single-single bonds, but also I can say that there are 4 "double ...
5 votes
1 answer
155 views

How does the position of hydroxyl group in a nucleotide monomer affect the dehydration synthesis of nucleotides?

In dehydration synthesis of nucleotides, the hydrogen atom from the 3' carbon on the deoxyribose sugar of one nucleotide reacts with the hydroxyl group on the phosphate group of another nucleotide to ...
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bonding in polar covalent bonds

I have recently learned that pure ionic and covalent bonds are just the extremes of a spectrum of bonds from this article from Chemguide. But I can't seem to square this with my understanding of how ...
-4 votes
1 answer
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molecular orbital theory explaining molecular orbitals [closed]

i am a high school student,,and i am confused in molecular orbital theory,,,my confusion is that how bonding and non bonding orbitals are formed at the same time my teacher taught me that the two wave ...
0 votes
2 answers
687 views

How do you explain partial charges in molecules that have a dipole? [closed]

For example if i have hydrogen and fluorine covalently bonded with each other, it would result in a polar molecule with the valence electrons being pulled closer to the fluorine than it is to the ...
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2 answers
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Covalent bond nature in electronegativity gap

Does a large difference in electronegativity mean the covalent bond is weaker? In a covalent bond between two atoms of different electronegativities, the bonding electrons are pulled towards the more ...
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8 votes
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What are the limitations of the Born-Lande' equation?

The Born-Lande' equation is used to theoretically calculate the lattice energy, $\Delta U$, of ionic compounds. It is often cited as such in literature, $$\Delta U = -\frac{k_Az_1z_2Me^2}{4 \pi \...
2 votes
0 answers
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Bond strength of carbon compounds

I read online that C=O is more stronger than C=N and the reason behind this was, 'Since bond between C and O is more polar hence it will have a slightly higher ionic nature than C and N. As we know ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Why does covalent bonding satisfy atoms?

Having to retake an introductory chemistry course has gotten me thinking. Covalent bonding is where electrons are shared between two atoms that both want more electrons. Let us take $\ce{O2}$ as an ...
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