CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

What is the difference between a coordinate covalent bond and covalent bond? How can you identify if a molecule has a coordinate covalent bond or a covalent bond?

In a coordinate covalent bond, one electron rich species donates both electrons to the bond. In a normal covalent bond, one electron comes from each species. However, they are both covalent bonds because they are sharing electrons.

All coordinate covalent bonds are covalent bonds, but not all covalent bonds are coordinate covalent, if that makes sense. Coordinate covalent bonds are a type of covalent bond where both electrons involved in forming the bond are originally from one of the interacting atoms or molecules, whereas usually one electron comes from each.

Coordinate covalent bonds have one species donate both electrons to the forming the bond while usually covalent bonds have one electron come from each atom.

An example of a covalent bond would simply be F + F --> F2. In this molecule, each F donates one electron to share with the other.

An example of a coordinate covalent bond would be BF3 + F- --> BF4. In this molecule, F- provides 2 electrons to share with the central atom B and to complete its octet. B itself does not supply any electron to the covalent bond.

In a coordinate covalent bond, one atom provides both of the bonding valence electrons.

In a coordinate covalent bond one atom provides both electrons.