If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

Main content

Covalent bond and Lewis dot structure (H2O & CO2)

More free lessons & practice "Link" Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. We offer quizzes, questions, instructional videos, and articles on a range of academic subjects, including math, biology, chemistry, physics, history, economics, finance, grammar, preschool learning, and more. We provide teachers with tools and data so they can help their students develop the skills, habits, and mindsets for success in school and beyond. Khan Academy has been translated into dozens of languages, and 15 million people around the globe learn on Khan Academy every month. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we would love your help! Donate here: https://www.khanacademy.org/donate?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=desc Created by Mahesh Shenoy.

Want to join the conversation?

  • starky seed style avatar for user Dishita
    How is NO2 formed?
    N=2,5 needs to share 3 e-
    O=2,6 needs to share 2 e-

    how can 2 molecules of O share 3 e- and be stable,
    won't one molecule of O be unstable in order for Nitrogen to achieve an octet?
    (7 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user ScienceLover7
    Why is the water molecule shaped like an inverted 'V' ? Why can't it be flat like Carbon dioxide ? Is it something to do with the covalent bonds?
    Also, do the electrons in the covalent bond stay between both atoms, or something else?
    (3 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • female robot amelia style avatar for user Aysha
      Well, the oxygen atom in the water molecule has 2 lone pairs of electrons(electrons that are not shared with other atoms). These electrons push away the bonded pairs of electrons,giving it its "V shape". In the case of carbon dioxide,however,the carbon atom has no lone pairs so there is no repulsion between the bonded pairs and lone pairs.
      For the second part of your question, the electrons are present in a 3D region around the nucleus of an atom. The electrons are not in a fixed position and are constantly moving around in the 3D region.
      (5 votes)
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user RITESH PAWAR
    at 4.02 ,electrons are revolving around the nucleus , this means they are changing thier positins and changing their bonds . how is this possible if the electrons sometime is not in bond ?
    (3 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user ScienceLover7
      Nice question.

      Electrons are not actually revolving around the nucleus, but are present in regions knowns as orbitals. If this is the first time you heard this word, you will probably learn about it in Class 11. Bohr's model of the atom was replaced by a more advanced model called Quantum Model of the Atom. In this model, electrons form bonds by sharing electrons and merging their orbitals. The electrons are continuously moving, but within their given orbital. I am not going into much detail in this answer, but if you want you can check out textbooks of Class 11, or watch some Khan Academy videos.

      Hope this helped :)

      P.S. Just comment if you want a more detailed answer. I'll try my best.
      (1 vote)
  • blobby green style avatar for user kdhimanjustin87
    Why is an octet so stable?
    (2 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • starky seed style avatar for user Dishita
      The no. of valence electrons determine how reactive a substance is.
      An atom always tries to achieve the nearest noble gas electronic configuration (= valence electrons =octet except for atomic no. 1 to 5=duplet)

      an Octet (or duplet to those mentioned above) is the most stable electronic configuration of atoms as all orbitals will be full and don't have to gain,lose or share electrons.
      note: the max. no. of electrons in the outer shell is 8

      If you're asking why 8 valence electrons and not 6 or 20 or any other no.,
      pardon I do not have the answer to that....yet
      (2 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user neevkar
    in the H2O lewis structure, wont the hydrogen atoms have a dash between them too? as they share an electron with each other
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • leaf grey style avatar for user kaede
      Not really. As you can see at , hydrogen is not sharing electrons with each other, it is sharing electrons with oxygen. Which is why the formula of water is H2O, that is 1 atom of oxygen shares electrons with 2 atoms of hydrogen
      (2 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user DSP
    why cant H2O form ionic bond
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user Somesh Sahu
    Are there any exceptions in covalent bond ?
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user Somesh Sahu
    The total number of electrons an electron shell can hold is determined by the formula 2n² and it goes by the order 2, 8, 18, 32 electrons and so on. So why do we say that 8 electrons is a stable valence electron number ?
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • blobby green style avatar for user Laasyan
    how does the shape of a bond depend on its electrons. Like what does pyramid, triangular...shaped bonds mean
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user

Video transcript