Ionic Bonds

EQ: Why do some atoms give away electrons while others take them—and what does that create?

Ionic bonds form when atoms give or take electrons to become more stable. The resulting charged particles form strong crystal structures.

Many gemstones, like halite and fluorite, are shaped by ionic bonding.

Covalent Bonds

EQ: How do atoms share electrons—and how does that affect what they form?

Atoms can also share electrons to form molecules. This kind of bonding leads to predictable structures and colors in nonmetallic minerals.

Quartz and topaz owe their form and clarity to covalent bonds.

Names and formulas of Compounds

EQ: How can we describe a compound just by looking at its name—or write its name just from its formula?

Every compound has a chemical name and formula that tells us what it’s made of. Learning to write and read them is like decoding a mineral’s recipe.

When you know the formula, you can understand what gives a gem its color or hardness.