Chemical bonding
The key idea
Chemical bonding describes how atoms are held together through interactions involving electrons and nuclei. Ionic, covalent and metallic models highlight different limiting behaviours rather than three completely isolated worlds.
Why it matters
The useful question is not only “what bond is this?” but “what does this model help predict?”
A useful mental picture
The useful question is not only “what bond is this?” but “what does this model help predict?”