PHYS 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 29: Ionic Bonding, Metallic Bonding, Quantum Mechanics
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PHYS 102 Full Course Notes
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Quantum mechanics explains the bonding together of atoms to form molecules. In a covalent bond, the electron clouds of two or more atoms overlap because of constructive interference between the electron waves. The positive nuclei are attracted to this concentration of negative charge between them, forming the bond. An ionic bond is an extreme case of a covalent bond in which one or more electrons from one atom spend much more time around the other atom than around their own. The atoms then act as oppositely charged ions that attract each other, forming the bond. These strong bonds hold molecules together, and also hold atoms and molecules together in solids. Also important are weak bonds (or van der waals bonds), which are generally dipole attractions between molecules. Some solids are bound together by covalent and ionic bonds, just as molecules are. In metals, the electrostatic force between free electrons and positive ions helps form the metallic bond.
