Bonding: Let?s Get Together

Summary
A review of atomic structure and introduction to ionic and covalent bonding with examples.

Objectives
• Students will understand the need for bonds to create the variety of matter that exists.

• Students will review the structure of the atom with emphasis on electrons.

• Students will become familiar with the idea that an atom is most stable with a full outer orbit of electrons.

• Students will compare and contrast ionic and covalent bonds.

• Students will give examples of ionic and covalent bonds.

Suggested Grades
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade

Excerpt
In order to create all the variety of matter or stuff that exists in the world, atoms must combine. There are only about 100 different kinds of atoms but many, many different kinds of matter. All of these different kinds of matter are created by links that hold atoms together. These links are called bonds. Chemical bonds are not an actual structure like a bridge, but they are a chemical attraction that holds more than one atom together. Two of the most common kinds of bonds are ionic and covalent.

In order to understand bonding, you need to know what an atom is like. Atoms are made of three smaller parts ? protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons are in the center of an atom but electrons orbit around the outside of the atom. Electrons are very tiny and have negative charges.

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