Molecules are atoms that are linked together by bonds. A bond is made when two atoms share their electrons.

 

There are Two Kinds of Strong Bonds

Shared electrons can spend more time near one atom than another. The extreme case, in which electrons spend all of their time near one of the atoms, is called an ionic bond. When the electrons are shared equally between atoms, the bond is called a pure covalent bond. Many bonds are actually somewhere between these two extremes, partly ionic and partly covalent.

 

Bonds use Different Amounts of Energy

Bonds have different amounts of energy; they hold atoms together with more or less strength. It always take energy to break a bond.

How does just sharing electrons succeed in holding two atoms together? Read more about covalent bonds.

Atoms are also connected together by special electrostatic forces.

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