Covalent Compounds

A covalent compound is a compound that is formed through non - metal elements only. No ions are contained by covalent compounds. Polyatomic ions, other than ammonium are all considered non - metals, and therefore are not covalent. Ammonium is considered to be a non - metal as although it is a polyatomic ion, it is made up of non - metal elements, such as nitrogen, and hydrogen. The most common example of a covalent compound is water. Water contains 2 hydrogen molecules to one oxygen molecule. This contains no metals and therefore is a covalent bond.  

 

When non - metals bond, they bound covalently, hence their name. To bond covalently means to not take or give electrons, but to share. For example, when water forms, oxygen is sharing electrons with hydrogen. When oxygen is by itself, it needs 2 electrons to form a full shell. Hydrogen needs 1 electron to fill its shell, and neither one of these elements want to give away electrons. Therefore, both share their electrons. One hydrogen bonds with oxygen to give the oxygen 7 electrons, and itself a full shell, and the second hydrogen does the same. 

​

Here is an example of oxygen and hydrogen covalently bonding:

​

​

​