Covalent Properties

Simple Covalent Molecules

• Strong covalent bonds between atoms in the molecule
• Weak intermolecular forces between each of the molecules

Properties

• Low melting and boiling points due to weak intermolecular forces between molecules
• Poor conductors of electricity as there are no delocalised electrons to carry charge
• They are insoluable as they have strong covalent bonds

Giant Covalent Structures

• Some covalent structures are known as giant covalent structures
• These type of structures are made of a huge number of atoms and have strong covalent bonds between the atoms forming giant lattices

Polymers

• A type of covalent molecule
• Made of long chains of carbon atoms, held by covalent bonds
• Polymers contain tens of thousands of atoms, arranged in repeating units
• The units are simple covalent molecules
• Repeating units are called monomers
• In a single polymer chain, there are often thousands of repeating units