What Is Atomic Structure & Bonding?
Atoms are made of protons, neutrons and electrons. There are approximately 90 different varieties of atoms called elements. These elements combine with each other to form millions of different chemical substances. The forces connecting atoms are chemical bonds.
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Atoms
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The word atom is from the Greek, "ατομος" or "atomos." The expression means that which cannot be split. Although atoms actually can be split into their corresponding subatomic particles, that cannot happen without them losing their identity.
Atomic Construction
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Atoms consist of a center, or nucleus, of protons and neutrons. The number of protons in a nucleus defines the element. Circling the nucleus are "shells" of electrons. The number of electrons in an atom equals the number of protons.
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Ionic Bonding
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Atoms bond by means of electrons. The transfer of an electron produces "ions"--one positive, one negative. These two charges are then drawn together, electrostatically. It can be likened to one atom throwing the other one the loose end of a strong rope.
Covalent Bonding
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In a covalent bond, no electron is transferred. Rather, one atom shares an electron with the other, and vice versa. This is like each atom possessing a weak rope. Atom "a" throws atom "b" its rope, and atom "b" throws atom "a" its rope.
Metallic Bonding
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Yet another, more complex form of bonding is metallic bonding, in which a latticework of metallic nuclei is surrounded by a kind of electronic sea of conduction electrons.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Christian Guthier
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1st assig fr organic chemestry
