Types of Chemical Bonds Explained

In chemistry, atoms are held together by chemical bonds. The type of bond formed dictates many of the substance’s properties. Three primary types of chemical bonds are covalent, metallic, and ionic.

Covalent Bonds

In a covalent bond, two bonded atoms share electrons. When the atoms joined by a covalent bond are the same (e.g., N₂, O₂), neither atom attracts the shared electrons more strongly than the other. This is called a nonpolar covalent bond or simply nonpolar.

If the atoms of the covalent

Read More

Key Metallurgy Definitions

Some significant transformations are induced in steels, such as annealing, generally performed to achieve a smaller grain size and, consequently, improve metal properties.

Anisotropy

Anisotropy is the property of a material according to which certain physical properties, such as elasticity, thermal conductivity, velocity of propagation, and light, vary depending on the direction in which they are examined.

Alloy

An alloy is a system consisting of several elements, of which at least one is a metal, retaining

Read More

Core Chemistry Concepts: Matter, Atoms, and Reactions

States of Aggregation

Matter exists in different states based on the intensity of forces between particles:

  • Solid: Forces of attraction are very intense. Solids are rigid, cannot flow, maintain their own shape and volume, and are incompressible.
  • Liquid: Forces are less intense than in the solid state. Liquids can flow, do not have their own shape (taking the shape of the container), maintain their own volume, and are nearly incompressible (often treated as incompressible, though slight compressibility
Read More

Chemical Principles: Thermo, Kinetics, Eq

Work

  • Isobaric Process: At constant pressure (P = cte)
    W1→2 = -PΔV
  • Isothermal Process: At constant temperature (T = constant)
    W1→2 = -nRT ln(P1/P2)
  • Isochoric Process: At constant volume (V = constant)
    W1→2 = 0

Heat

  • Specific Heat: c = dQ / (mΔT)
    Q = c · m · ΔT
    If ΔT > 0, heat is absorbed.
    If ΔT < 0, heat is ceded (released).
  • Latent Heat of Change of State (L): At constant temperature
    From solid to liquid: Qf = m · Lf
    From liquid to gas: Qv = m · Lv

First Law of Thermodynamics

ΔU = Q + W

Calculating

Read More

States of Matter and Phase Changes

Solids

In the solid state, the particles are touching, and the only motion allowed to them is vibration. The particles may be arranged regularly (in which case, the solid is crystalline), or at random (giving waxy solids like candles or some forms of polyethylene, for example).

The particles are held in the solid by forces which depend on the actual substance – ionic bonds, covalent bonds, metallic bonds, hydrogen bonds, or van der Waals attractions.

Liquids

In a liquid, the particles are mainly touching,

Read More

Atomic Structure, Isotopes, and Mass Calculation

Sub-atomic Particles & Atomic Structure

  • Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the sub-atomic particles of an atom.
  • Scientists developed notations to easily identify the numbers and arrangement of these particles within the atom.

Atomic number (Z): The number of protons in the nucleus.

Mass number (A): The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom.

A = Z + N (where N is the number of neutrons)

Finding the Number of Neutrons

To find the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic number (Z) from the

Read More