Chapter 1

Atomic Structures &

Bonding
Learning Objectives:

• Describe the nature and structure of an

atom
• Describe ionic, covalent, metallic, van
der Waals and mixed bonds and note
the differences between them
• Note what materials exhibit each of the
bonding types
 Atomic Structure
Atomic number:
Equal to the orbital electrons:
number of n = principal
electrons or quantum number
protons n=3 2 1
Ex: Iron
26 electron=26
protons
Nucleus, Adapted from Fig. 2.1,
Z + N = # protons + # neutrons Callister 6e.

Atomic mass A ≈ Z + N
Atomic weight is a dimensionless physical quantity, the ratio of the average mass
of atoms of an element (from a given source) to 1/12 of the mass of an atom of
carbon.
Example: Iron 58.85 g/mol
Electron?
Avogadro’s Number = 6.023 x 1023 atoms/mol
• Valence electrons – those in unfilled shells
• Filled shells more stable
• Valence electrons are most available for bonding
and tend to control the chemical properties

– example: C (atomic number = 6)

1s2 2s2 2p2

 4d
4p N-shell n = 4

3d
4s

Energy 3p M-shell n = 3
3s

2p L-shell n = 2
2s

1s K-shell n = 1
 inert gases
give up 1e-
give up 2e-

accept 2e-
accept 1e-
give up 3e-
H He
Li Be O F Ne
Na Mg S Cl Ar
K Ca Sc Se Br Kr
Rb Sr Y Te I Xe
Cs Ba Po At Rn
Fr Ra

Electronegative elements:
Electropositive elements: Readily acquire electrons
Readily give up electrons to become - ions
to become + ions.
 Electronegativity
Values: 0.7 to 4
Larger values tendency to acquire electron. Increasing shielding
decreasing electronegativity

Smaller electronegativity
Larger electronegativity
 Atomic Bonding
Atomic Bonding

Primary Secondary Mixed

Involves e- transfer/sharing Involves weak attraction Involves more than one

and produces a strong between atoms type of primary bond
joining of adjacent atoms No e- transfer/sharing

Ionic-covalent
van der Waals
Ionic
Metallic-covalent
Covalent
Metallic-ionic
Metallic
 Ionic bonding
• result of e- transfer from one atom to another
• Formed between highly electropositive
(metallic) elements and highly electronegative
(nonmetallic) elements
• Due to coulombic attraction
• Producing cations and anions
• Nondirectional - +ve species attract –ve species
in all direction  ions stacked together in a
solid
• Example??
Ionic bonding
Ionic bond – metal + nonmetal

donates accepts
electrons electrons
 
Dissimilar electronegativities  

ex: MgO Mg 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 O 1s2 2s2 2p4

[Ne] 3s2 

Mg2+ 1s2 2s2 2p6 O2- 1s2 2s2 2p6

[Ne] [Ne]

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Electrical conductivity
poor; the electrical
charge is transferred by
the movement of entire
ion. Because of their
size do not move as easy
as electrons

Brittle???
 Covalent bonding

• Cooperative sharing of valence electrons between two

adjacent atoms (atoms with small differences in
electronegativity and close to each other in periodic
table)
• Highly directional (Example CH4- bond angle 109.5O
• Poor electrical and thermal conductivity,
• For electron to move and carry current covelent bond
must be broken , required high temperature or voltage
Covalent bonding
Metallic bonding
• Occurs in solid metals
• Involves e- sharing – valence e-
attracted to the nuclei of neighboring
atoms (delocalized e-)  electron cloud
• Nondirectional – atoms are packed
together in a systematic pattern or
crystalline structure
• Al-give 3 electrons to form a sea of
electron
Metallic bonding

As electron are not fixed an any one position ,

metals are good electrical conductor. Under
influence of applied voltage, the valence
electrons moves
SECONDARY BONDING
Arises from interaction between dipoles
• Fluctuating dipoles
asymmetric electron
clouds

+ - + -
secondary
bonding Adapted from Fig. 2.13,
Callister & Rethwisch 3e.

• Permanent dipoles-molecule induced

+ - secondary + -
-general case:
bonding Adapted from Fig. 2.14,
Callister & Rethwisch 3e.

H Cl secondary H Cl
-ex: liquid HCl
bonding

-ex: polymer second

a ry b o n secondary bonding
d i ng

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van der Waals bonding

• Somewhat similar to ionic bonding but no e-

transfer
• Attraction depends on asymmetrical
distribution of positive and negative charges
within each atom or molecular unit being
bonded – dipole
• Permanent dipole – between molecules
(water molecules, polyethylene)
Heating water breaks hydrogen bonding,
but much higher temperature needed to
break covalent bond joining hydrogen and
oxygen

Adapted from
Callister & Rethwisch 62.
Mixed bonding

• Ionic-covalent – semiconducting
compounds such as GaAs, ZnSe
• Metallic-covalent – occurs in transition
metals (Ti, Fe) high Tmelt
• Metallic-ionic – occurs in intermetallic
compounds (NaZn13, Al9Co3, Fe5Zn21)
Bond energy