Share to Win

Why it matters

Two people each grip one end of a heavy ball — neither can hold it alone, but together it stays up. Two atoms can do the same with electrons: share a pair, and both feel complete.

Predict first

Two hydrogen atoms each have just one electron. How do BOTH end up with a full (duplet) shell?

Each shared pair of electrons is a covalent bond. Because both atoms count the shared pair, sharing completes two shells at once — H₂ needs just one shared pair.

• They share their electrons as one pair, so each atom counts both — correct
• One hydrogen gives its electron to the other
• Their nuclei simply stick together directly

What you do

Now build water. Oxygen needs 2 more electrons; each hydrogen needs 1. Share pairs until every atom's outer shell is full.

Check yourself

In an H₂ molecule, what actually holds the two atoms together?

Each H contributes one electron to a shared pair; both then 'see' 2 electrons — a full duplet.

Oxygen has 6 outer electrons. How many covalent bonds does it form to complete its octet?

8 − 6 = 2, so oxygen shares two pairs — as in H₂O, where it bonds to two hydrogens.

Covalent bonds form mainly between…

Non-metals share electrons (covalent); a metal with a non-metal usually transfers them (ionic).

• A shared pair of electrons — a covalent bond — correct
• One atom transferring an electron to the other
• Magnetism between the two nuclei
• 2 — correct
• 6
• 8
• two non-metals — correct
• a metal and a non-metal
• two metals