Atoms are a lot like us - we call their relationships "bonds," and there are many different types. Each kind of atomic relationship requires a different type of energy, but they all do best when they settle into the lowest stress situation possible. The nature of the bond between atoms is related to the distance between them and, like people, it also depends on how positive or negative they are. Unlike human relationships, we can analyze exactly what makes chemical relationships work, and that's what this episode is all about.

If you are paying attention, you will learn that chemical bonds form in order to minimize the energy difference between two atoms or ions; that those chemical bonds may be covalent if atoms share electrons, and that covalent bonds can share those electrons evenly or unevenly; that bonds can also be ionic if the electrons are transferred instead of shared: and how to calculate the energy transferred in an ionic bond using Coulomb's Law.

Chapters:
Bonds Minimize Energy
Covalent Bonds
Ionic Bonds
Coulomb's Law

Models are great, except they're also usually inaccurate. In this episode of Crash Course Chemistry, Hank discusses why we need models in the world and how we can learn from them... even when they're almost completely wrong. Plus, Lewis Structures!

Chapters:
Models
Linus Pauling & The Bonding Model
Lewis Dot Structures
Ionic Bonds
Covalent Bonds
Double Bonds
Triple Bonds

This interactive activity helps learners visualize the role of electrons in the formation of ionic and covalent chemical bonds. Students explore different types of chemical bonds by first viewing a single hydrogen atom in an electric field model. Next, students use sliders to change the electronegativity between two atoms -- a model to help them understand why some atoms are attracted. Finally, students experiment in making their own models: non-polar covalent, polar covalent, and ionic bonds. This item is part of the Concord Consortium, a nonprofit research and development organization dedicated to transforming education through technology.

This is a presentation that goes over key factors in ionic bonding like the octet rule and electronegativity.

Students will refresh their skills with finding valence electrons and creating dot diagrams.  They will then use those skills to become valence electrons and build human dot diagrams to model ionic bonds occurring.  During this stage, they will discuss what they see occurring and what appears to be common among ionic bonds.  Key points include metals losing electrons, nonmetals gaining electrons, and electromagnetic force.  They will then practice forming ionic bonds when given two elements that would bond.  The activity will end with a short video reviewing the basics of covalent and ionic bonds and a discussion to compare and contrast the two types of bonds.  This lesson also offers a challenge of allowing students to form ionic bonds with other students in a varient on the childhood game Tag, but Bonding Tag is an extension not posted in this lesson.

Ionic bonds result from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, which form when valence electrons are transferred from one atom to another. Created by Sal Khan.

This assignment is an ionic bond practice that focuses on identifying ionic bonds and electronegativity.

Investigate what makes something soluble by exploring the effects of intermolecular attractions and what properties are necessary in a solution to overcome them. Interactive models simulate the process of dissolution, allowing you to experiment with how external factors, such as heat, can affect a substance's solubility.