Asked in Chemical Bonding
Chemical Bonding
How many electrons are being shared in a single covalent bond?
Answer

Wiki User
March 08, 2012 3:43AM
Only two electrons.
Related Questions
Asked in Chemical Bonding
What is a pair of electrons shared by two atoms in a covalent bond?

By definition, a covalent bond is a type of chemical
bond characterized by the sharing of a pair of electrons
between two atoms. If it's only one pair of electrons being shared,
then it would be a single covalent bond, two pairs of electrons
being shared is a double covalent bond, and three pairs of
electrons shared would be a triple covalent bond.
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Are some covalent compound bonds identical?

Yes. For example, the four carbon-hydrogen bonds in methane are
usually considered identical.
Covalent bonds are a way for atoms to "help each other",
sharing their electrons, in order to form a
stable molecule.
Here are some type of covalent bonds:
Single bond, is a bond formed by one pair of
electrons (two electrons) shared between two atoms.
2. Multiple bond, is a bond where more than one
pair of electrons is being shared.
Double Bond, is a bond formed by two pairs of electrons (four
electrons)being shared between two atoms.
Triple Bond, is a bond where three pairs of electrons are being
shared, bonding two atoms.
Multiple bonds are used when a single bond isn't enough to
follow the Octet Rule, in other words, to be stable.
Asked in Chemical Bonding
What is the difference between covalent bonds and metallic bonds?

In a covalent bond, the electrons can be defined by the atoms
they are shared between; specific atoms are bound to specific
others. In metallic bonding, the nuclei "float" in a sea of
electrons. the electrons here are shared by the mass as a whole,
with no nuclei being bound to any specific other nuclei and no
electrons bound to any particular atoms.
Asked in Physics, Elements and Compounds, Chemical Bonding
What are the physical properties of covalent bonds?

Covalent bonds occur between two non-metals. The resulting
compounds will generally have low melting points and will be
brittle. Electrons are not transferred between atoms; they are
shared between the valence shells of both atoms. Electrons are not
always shared equally. One electron being shared by two non-metals
can spend more time in the valence shell of one atom than in the
other, although in covalent bonds, electrons are shared fairly
equally.
Covalent bonds are not as strong as ionic bonds; they have a
lower electronegativity difference. The electronegativity
difference between elements must be less than 1.7 for the bond to
be considered a covalent bond.