Chemical bonding and molecular structure – Solutions

1) Explain the formation of a chemical bond.
Solution
A chemical bond is the force of attraction that holds various constituents (atoms or ions) together in different chemical species.
Atoms combine in different ways to attain stable configuration of nearest inert gas. Atoms combine by either transfer of electrons (ionic bond) or by sharing of electrons (covalent bond). Due to the formation of chemical bond, the energy of the atoms is lowered, resulting in maximum stability.
Types of bonds: Depending on the nature of formation, bonds are classified into two kinds:
1) Ionic bond 2) Covalent bond
Ionic bond: The bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another atom is called an ionic bond.
Example : NaCl
NaCl is formed by the complete transfer of one electron from Na to Cl.
Then Na⁺ and Cl^– ions get attracted to each other to form an ionic bond.
Sodium (Na):