Contents of 2.4 How do elements combine to form minerals?

2.4 How do elements <br />combine to form minerals?

Covalent bonds

Atoms share valence electrons
This effectively fills all unfilled layers
Covalent bonds are strong

Two or more uncharged atoms may bond by sharing electrons in their outermost layers. The outer electron layer surrounding a carbon nucleus has four electrons and needs eight to be full. A carbon atom, therefore, can share electrons with four other surrounding carbon atoms so that all of them have full outer layers. Sharing electrons defines covalent bonds

Fig 2.13