Elements Bonding Research Paper

Chemistry has been around since the beginning of mankind; from the man's first discovery of fire to present day, where we know and continuously study the smallest molecular structure of anything and everything. It is the study of monumental things like the composition of matter itself, the chemical interactions between everything, from the purest elements to the most complex mixtures, and the adhesive components for all parts of life. Chemistry, in short, is the study of everything. There are many branches of chemistry that spread from physical, to organic, to biochemistry and they all are vital to the continuous study and dedication to and for science.

Throughout the school year, we have went over concepts in Chemistry and studied multiple

One of the most important types of bonds is ionic and covalent bonds which affects the entire way the elements bond together. Ionic bonds are the bonds that form between a metal, known as a cation, and a nonmetal, an anion. Ionic bonds occur through an attraction of opposite charged ions and covalent bonds are simply the bonds between two nonmetals. The thing that sets the two bonding types apart besides what they bond is how they bond. Ionic bonds transfer their electrons to each other. For instance, Sodium, also known as Na, has 1 valence electron while Chlorine, Cl, has 7 valence electrons on its outermost ring. Na could gain 7 electrons or lose the one it has to be complete but it will lose one because it is easier for the element. Cl on the other hand needs one electron or could lose its 7, but it will instead search for one instead of losing all 7 because it is simply easier for it. Therefore, when Na and Cl bond, Na will lose its one extra electron to Cl so they both are complete. Also, when Na loses one electron, it will become Na+ while Cl becomes Cl- because it gains a negative electron. The most basic form of a covalent bond is H2O. Hydrogen only needs 2 electrons to become complete and it has only 1 alone. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons and needs 2 more in order to become complete. Here is where the difference between Ionic and Covalent comes in. In NaCl, Na transferred its extra electron to Cl. In this Covalent example, two of these Hydrogens will share its valence electrons with Oxygen, instead of giving. Therefore, each H has 2 valence electrons while the Oxygen shares the Hydrogen's electrons, giving it 8 full valence electrons. Knowing these two types of bonding helps people from scientists to scholars to know how certain elements bond to each other and more information can be concluded from