Covalent Bonds

 A covalent bond is formed when atoms share valence electrons. The atoms do not always share the electrons equally. 

 Covalent bonding may be single or multiple, depending on the number of pairs the atoms share.

Single covalent bonding

Most common type of chemical bonding is single covalent bonding, where one pair of valence electrons is shared by the two atoms. Valence electrons are those that are in the outer orbit or shell of an atom.

Hydrogen molecule

A good example of single covalent bonding is the Hydrogen molecule (H₂).

Each Hydrogen atom shares the other's valance electron.Since the atoms are sharing the other's electron, both appear to have the first orbit or shell filled with the maximum of two electrons.

Multiple covalent bonding

Some molecules are held together with double, triple and even quadruple covalent bonding. That means that two, three or four pairs of electrons are shared. A vast majority of multiple covalent boding is double covalent bonding.

Double covalent bonding

Since its outer orbit is missing 2 electrons, you never see an Oxygen atom by itself, because and it can readily combine with another Oxygen atom to form a more stable Oxygen molecule (O₂).

The Oxygen molecule is held together by a double covalent bonding.

Oxygen molecule employs double covalent bonding

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