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Atomic Structure

Why does a Chlorine Molecule have a Covalent Bond?

Chlorine is a non-metal.
A chlorine atom has 7 electrons in its outer shell.
Chlorine is in group 7 of the periodic table.
Two chlorine atoms will each share one electron
to get a full outer shell and form a stable Cl2 molecule.

This is a picture of the shared electrons making a covalent bond
in a chlorine molecule. Chlorine is a simple molecule.
The Formation of a Chlorine Molecule from Atoms.

By sharing the two electrons where the shells touch
each chlorine atom can count 8 electrons in its outer shell.
These full outer shells with their shared electrons
are now stable and the Cl2
molecule will not react further
with other chlorine atoms.
One pair of shared electrons form a single covalent bond.

There are no ions present (no + or - charges) in chlorine gas
because the electrons are shared,
not transferred from one atom to another.
Chlorine does form hydrogen ions
when it is dissolved in water to become chloric acid.


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