A chemical bond is the attractive force that holds atoms or ions together in a compound. It forms because atoms tend to achieve a stable arrangement of electrons, often by completing their outermost shell (octet rule).
There are three main types of chemical bonds:
- Ionic bond – Formed when one atom transfers electrons to another. For example, sodium (Na) transfers an electron to chlorine (Cl) to form sodium chloride (NaCl).
- Covalent bond – Formed when two atoms share pairs of electrons. For example, hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) share electrons to form water (H₂O).
- Metallic bond – Found in metals, where electrons move freely between positively charged ions, creating a “sea of electrons” that gives metals their conductivity and malleability.
In simple terms, a chemical bond is like the “glue” that keeps atoms together, allowing them to form molecules and compounds with specific properties.