What happens to the electrons in a formation of a covalent bond?

Answer 1

While electrons are transferred from one element to another in ionic bonds, valence electrons are shared in covalent bonds.

The ultimate "goal" of elements in bonding is to complete their outer shell, that is, end up with 8 valence electrons. Elements in ionic bonds accomplish this by giving away or taking electrons until their outer shell is complete; elements in covalent bonds share electrons so that the electrons completing the outer shell of one element are also completing the outer shell of the other.

For example, in the case of O2, both oxygen atoms are looking to complete their outer shells, and both have 6 valence electrons, creating a total of 12 valence electrons. When they bond, they share two pairs of electrons, giving 4 electrons that are shared between the two, and 4 electrons per atom that are not shared. This creates a double bond between the two oxygen atoms (because two pairs of electrons are being shared) and means that while each atom has 8 electrons in its outer shell, because 4 of them are shared, there are still only 12 valence electrons overall.

Thus in covalent bonds electrons are shared between two atoms to complete both outer shells at once.

Answer 2

The electrons have been combined together. For example: oxygen(6) and carbon(4) you will need two oxygen and one carbon. You will show it by putting the carbon in the middle and doing the Lewis dot structure. Then you will put the oxygens on both sides of the carbon, and you will do a venn diagram like drawing... oxygen1 WILL HAVE TO SHARE TWO OF HIS ELECTRONS WITH FOUR OF OXYGEN'S ELECTRONS SO THEY BOTH CAN HAVE 8 ELECTRONS.

A covalant bond happens only between non-metals, and some metalloids.

In a covalent bond, the different elements share their valence electrons in order to achieve stability in electronic configuration.

For example, in the covalent bond of carbon dioxide (CO2), each oxygen atom will share 2 of its electrons with the carbon atom, while the carbon atom will share 2 of its valence electrons with each of the oxygen atom. In this way, all 3 atoms will achieve the stable octet structure.

Do take note that in covalent bonds, the total number of electrons shared by 2 atoms are usually equal. there fore the electrons would be on the sex outside..

Answer 3

In covalent bonding electrons are "shared" by the elements. Eg, hydrogen: only has 1 electron in outer shell, wants 2 so it's stable, so it takes the electron of a different hydrogen, but then that hydrogen wants the 2, so the electrons change and go back and foward. In ionic bonding the electrons are transferred. Eg, Sodium chloride: sodium has 11 electrons (1s22s22p63s1) and chlorine has 17 (1s22s22p63s23p5). The 3s1 from sodium goes to the 3p shell in chlorine, giving both sodium and chlorine a stable octet configuration. (1s22s22p6) and (1s22s22p63s23p6)

Answer 4

In a completely covalent bond, both bonding electrons occupy orbitals equally influenced by the nuclei of the two atoms that are bonded.

Answer 5

The outer shell electrons get shared between the two elements creating a covalent bond.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

Share electrons