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How are atoms connected to molecules and everyday materials?
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principles of physical science
Figure 1: Data in the table of the Galileo experiment. The tangent to the curve is drawn at t = 0.6.
Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter. They connect to form molecules and everyday materials through chemical bonds, which are driven by the electrical interactions of their outermost electrons.123
These bonds generally fall into three primary categories based on how electrons are distributed:
- Ionic bonds: Electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions that are held together by mutual electrostatic attraction, such as in table salt.2
- Covalent bonds: Atoms share pairs of electrons to achieve stability, a common structure in organic materials and substances like diamond or quartz.42
- Metallic bonds: Outer electrons are shared collectively among all atoms in a material, forming an "electron sea" that allows for properties like electrical conductivity in metals.42
Additionally, weaker interactions like van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds help hold molecules together in liquids and solids, influencing the physical properties of materials such as their hardness and melting points.53