Covalent Substances: Simple Molecular
Simple molecular structures
- Substances with covalent bonds can form simple molecules
- The atoms form very strong bonds covalently – these form strong molecules
- The forces of attraction between these molecules are very weak
- For simple molecular forces the melting and boiling points are very low because the molecules are easily parted from one another – it is the intermolecular forces that get broken when simple molecular substances melt or boil – not the much stronger covalent bonds
- Most molecular substances are gases or liquids at room temperature, but they can be solids
- Molecular substances don’t conduct electricity – no ions so no electrical charge