ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the properties of atoms, where the materials are made up of assemblies of atoms arranged in a myriad different ways, and examines the various ways in which they can be bonded together. Bonding is the name given to the mechanism by which two atoms join together to form compounds. Ionic bonding is the simplest type of bond whereas covalent bonding is found in most polymeric type materials, and it involves electron sharing. The periodic table has enormous significance in understanding the chemical behaviour of the elements. Metallic bonding is different from both ionic and covalent bonding. When the carbon-carbon bonds along each molecule are covalent, van der Waals bonds form between the chains. Crystal structures are highly ordered. Body-centred cubic, BCC crystal structure is found metals, such as ferritic steel, pure iron, chromium, and tungsten. Face-centred cubic, FCC crystal structure is found in metals such as austenitic steel, copper, gold, silver, nickel, and so on.
