Relate how bonding leads to the formation of molecules and compounds.
Bonding is the process by which atoms come together to form molecules and compounds. Atoms are made up of a central nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons. These electrons are responsible for the bonding behavior of atoms.
There are different types of chemical bonds that can form between atoms. The most common types are ionic bonds and covalent bonds.
Ionic bonding occurs when there is a transfer of electrons from one atom to another. In this process, one atom becomes positively charged because it loses electrons, while the other atom becomes negatively charged because it gains these electrons. The positively and negatively charged atoms, called ions, are then attracted to each other and form an ionic bond. This type of bonding often occurs between metals and nonmetals.
Covalent bonding, on the other hand, occurs when atoms share electrons. In a covalent bond, two atoms come together and each contributes one or more electrons to a shared electron pair. This shared pair of electrons creates a bond that holds the atoms together. Covalent bonding usually occurs between nonmetals.
Once atoms are bonded together, they form molecules if they are the same type of atom, or compounds if they are different types of atoms. Molecules are made up of the same kind of atoms, such as oxygen molecules (O2) or nitrogen molecules (N2). Compounds, on the other hand, are made up of different types of atoms, like water (H2O) or carbon dioxide (CO2).
In summary, bonding is the process by which atoms come together to form molecules and compounds. This can occur through ionic bonding, where electrons are transferred between atoms, or covalent bonding, where electrons are shared between atoms. These bonded atoms then form molecules or compounds depending on their composition.