subject: Properties Of Covalent Compounds [print this page] Introduction to Properties of covalent compounds:
Covalent compounds contain covalent bonds and this bond is formed by sharing of electrons in equal number between identical atoms or atoms having very less electronegative differences between them. The covalent compounds show differences in their properties from the ionic counterparts. The following includes some of the properties of covalent compounds:
Melting and boiling points
solubility
Electrical conductivity
Types of bonding:
There are two main types of bonding between the atoms.
1. Electrovalent bond or Ionic bond: Electrons from one atom is transferred to another atom.
2. Covalent bond: Covalent bond is formed when electrons are shared between two atoms.
Covalent bonds can be polar bonds or non polar bonds. In non polar covalent bonds, the shared pair of electrons is placed in the center of the two nucleuses of the atoms. In polar covalent bonds, the electrons are seen close to the nucleus of one atom.
Introduction to Properties of covalent compounds:
Covalent compounds contain covalent bonds and this bond is formed by sharing of electrons in equal number between identical atoms or atoms having very less electronegative differences between them. The covalent compounds show differences in their properties from the ionic counterparts. The following includes some of the properties of covalent compounds:
Melting and boiling points
solubility
Electrical conductivity
Rate of reactions
Isomerism
Covalent Compound's Properties
Property 1 : Melting and boiling points:
Covalent compounds have low melting points and boiling points because in these compounds weak vanderwaal's forces of attraction operate between the molecules. Small amounts of energy are sufficient to overcome these attractive forces hence they are low. Generally Covalent compounds exists as gases or low boiling liquids at ordinary temperatures.
Examples include H2,N2 and O2 which exists as gases and C6H6,H2O exists as low boiling liquid at ordinary temperature.
Property 2: SOLUBILITY:
Covalent compounds contains atoms which share electrons equally they do not contains ions as in the case of ionic compounds ,Because of this their solubility depends on the polarity of the compound.Polar Covalent substances like glucose,fructose etc. dissolve in polar solvents like water ,alcohol etc., and Non-polar covalent substances like Iodine,Camphor etc., are soluble in non-polar solvents like benzene,carbon tetrachloride etc.
Property 3 : ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY:
Covalent compounds do not conduct Electricity in the molten state or in the aqueous solutions because there are neither free electrons nor ions present in them. Therefore they are considered as Non-Electrolytes and do not conduct Electricity.
Property 4 : Rate of Reactions:
Covalent molecules undergo Molecular reactions during these reactions, breaking of bond and bond making reactions occurs. Generally these reactions are slow and rarely proceed to completion.
Property 5 : ISOMERISM:
Covalent molecules have specific directional property for the bonds in them. As a Consequence, they generally exhibit Isomerism.
examples include Ethyl alcohol and Dimethyl ether exists as isomers.
Having problem with arc length keep reading my articles,click here to see
