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Nonmetal bonding patterns

The following table on nonmetal bonding patterns is particularly useful for learning how to draw structural formulas of molecules because it shows the possible bonding combinations for each atom. Note that for hydrogen and each of the halogens that they may form only one covalent bond. Carbon always forms four bonds as either four single bonds, or two single bonds and one double bond, or one single bond and one triple bond, or occasionally two double bonds. In the case of nitrogen there is almost always one unshared pair of electrons (exception: ammonium). Nitrogen may form either three single bonds, or one single bond and one double bond, or one triple bond. The chalcogens, oxygen and sulfur, have two pairs of unshared electrons. They may form either two single bonds or one double bond.

A Summary of Some Nonmetal Bonding Patterns

Nonmetal ElementPeriodic GroupValence ElectronsLewis Dot StructureNo. of BondsBonding Pattern
HI1Lewis dot structure of hydrogen1Bonding pattern of hydrogen
CIV4Lewis dot structure of carbon4Bonding pattern of carbon
NV5Lewis dot structure of nitrogen3Bonding pattern of nitrogen
OVI6Lewis dot structure of oxygen2Bonding pattern of oxygen
SVI6Lewis dot structure of sulfur2Bonding pattern of sulfur
X*VII7Lewis dot structure of halogen1Bonding pattern of halogen
X* = F, Cl, Br, I




Created and maintained by: Dr. Anna Cavinato anna.cavinato@eou.edu and Dr. David Camp
.
All Material Copyright Eastern ChemWeb, Eastern Oregon University, 2003.