What is covalent Bonding

Lewis recognized that in simple molecules another form of bonding had to operate and he suggested that electrons might be shared in pairs so that each atom could be said to have attained the stable electronic configuration of a noble gas. The sharing of two electrons, one electron being provided by each atom, constitutes a single covalent bond; for example

Cl* + Cl -Cl Cl

Covalent bonding exists in the form of discrete molecules with little force of Attraction between the individual molecules and this accounts for many of them being gases, volatile liquids or easily solids.in covalent bonding, electrons are not transferred but are shared.A covalent bond consists of a pair of electrons shared by two atoms. The shared electrons are each contributed by the reacting atoms. covalent bond can also be regarded as resulting from the overlap of electron clouds.

Covalent bonds are much more common in organic chemistry than ionic bonds. A covalent bond consists of the simultaneous attraction of two nuclei for one or more pairs of electrons. The electrons located between the two nuclei are bonding electrons. Covalent bonds occur between identical atoms or between different atoms whose difference in electronegativity is insufficient to allow the transfer of electrons to form ions. Examples of compounds that contain only covalent bonds are methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and iodine monobromide (IBr).

Properties of covalent compound

• They are non electrolyte or insulators when fused or in solution
• They are insoluble in polar solvent but soluble in organic solvents
• They have low melting and boiling points
  
• Begripstoets lattice is burnt from molecules and the crystal are soft
• The bonds are directional
  
• Compounds with covalent bonds usually have lower enthalpies of vaporization and fusion.
• Covalent compounds are not soluble in water.
  
  

Covalent Bonding in Carbon Atom

As per the electronic configuration of Carbon, it needs to gain or lose 4 electrons to become stable, which seems impossible as:

Carbon cannot gain 4 electrons to become C4-, because it will be tough for 6 protons to hold 10 electrons and so the atom will become unstable.
Carbon cannot lose 4 electrons to become C4+ because it would require a large amount of energy to remove out 4 electrons and also the C4+ would have only 2 electrons held by proton, which will again become unstable
Carbon cannot gain or donate electrons, so to complete its nearest noble gas configuration, it shares electrons to form a covalent bonds.
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@Henkjan de Krijger