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Rafawhy'd u have to ask that? A covalent compound is a compound in which the atoms that are bonded share electrons rather than transfer electrons from one to the other. While ionic compounds are usually formed when metals bond to nonmetals, covalent compounds are formed when two nonmetals bond to each other.
The big question that students frequently have is, "Why do elements share electrons? After all, wouldn't electrons rather grab electrons outright? That's what happens when ionic compounds are formed."
The reason that nonmetals have to share electrons with each other has to do with electronegativity. Recall that electronegativity is a measure of how much an element pulls electrons away from other elements it is bonded to. Metals generally have very low electronegativities (they don't much want to grab electrons) while nonmetals have high electronegativities (they really want to grab electrons). The reason for this trend is the octet rule, which says that all elements want to have the same number of electrons as the nearest noble gas, because noble gases are unusually stable. When metals bond to nonmetals, ionic compounds are formed because the metal atoms don't want electrons and easily give them to nonmetals that do want electrons.
It's a different story when two nonmetals bond with each other. Instead of having one element give electrons to another, we run into a case where we have two elements that have roughly the sameelectronegativity. As a result, neither element can steal electrons from the other. As a result, if either of them are going to be like the nearest noble gas, they'll have to share electrons rather than transfer them.
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Could somebody explain the phrase like dissolves like?
"Like dissolves like" is a principle in chemistry that refers to the tendency of substances with similar polarities to mix or dissolve in each other. For example, polar solvents dissolve polar solutes, and nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes. This principle helps predict solubility and interactions between different substances.
Name 2 solids that dissolve in water?
Ionic compounds are the most common compounds that dissolve in water because they have positive and negative dipoles. The positive and negative dipoles of water attract the negative and positive dipoles of the ionic compound, pulling it apart between the dipoles. However, certain non-ionic substances also dissolve easily in water. For example, sugar and alcoholic beverages made with alcohols such as ethanol are also soluble in water. Ethanol is especially soluble in water because the molecule contains a polar O—H bond like those in water. Because it is similar to the form of an H20 molecule, it bonds to the H20 as if it were one. Similarly, the sugar molecule has many polar O—H molecules that can also bond with water molecules.
What are two things besides sand that are not soluble in water?
Two examples are plastic and wax. Both plastic and wax are non-polar substances and therefore do not dissolve in water, which is a polar solvent.
Can water dissolve salt?
Yes, water can dissolve salt. When salt is mixed with water, the water molecules surround the salt ions and break them apart, allowing the salt to dissolve into the water.
Why do you think water and oil have different properties?
Water and oil have different properties because they are made up of different molecules. Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a positive and negative end, which allows it to dissolve other polar substances. Oil, on the other hand, is a nonpolar molecule, so it does not mix well with water. This difference in molecular structure leads to their distinct behaviors and properties.
