Before you learn all about covalent bonding, have a look at these amazing compounds and what they can do!
Scientists are creating and discovering fascinating new materials all the time. Back in the late 1920’s, some American scientists invented aerogel. They believed that an object was a gel dues to its structure (it has a network of nanopores) , and not its liquid properties. When they evaporated the liquid trying to prove this, the gel just deflated. Therefore the scientists attempted to replace the liquid in the gel with gas, all without damaging the structure. The result….aerogel!
It is incredibly light – according to Guinness World Records, the lightest solid there is. It can support up to 500 times its weight, is breathable, fireproof, can be an electrical conductor, or an insulator! Aerogels have been used in space missions to collect dust from a comet’s tail, in clothing to protect from extreme heat, and even put in make-up!
Ever fancied getting an elevator into space? Scientists have made diamond nanothreads, arranging carbon atoms in a zigzag structure. Scientists apply enormous pressure, then remove it to make an incredibly strong, stiff material. It is amazingly thin, only 3 atoms across – and some believe it to be stronger than nano-tubes. Much more testing is needed, but theoretically, it could be strong enough and light enough to build an elevator into space!!!
GCSE scientists – you need to be able to explain what covalent bonding is. You also need to be able to draw dot and cross diagrams to represent a number of different covalent compounds, including hydrogen. If you need some help with this, check out Part 1 of our “How to work with Covalent Bonding” revision guide. It explains what a covalent bond is, and takes you through a number of different compounds, showing how they bond. To check your understanding, there are example questions and answers.
Click on the picture below to see the guide.
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