Question Video: Identifying the Statement Which Describes Covalent Bonding | Nagwa Question Video: Identifying the Statement Which Describes Covalent Bonding | Nagwa

Question Video: Identifying the Statement Which Describes Covalent Bonding Science • First Year of Preparatory School

Which statement correctly describes covalent bonding? [A] Statement 1 [B] Statement 2 [C] Statement 3 [D] Statement 4

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Video Transcript

Which statement correctly describes covalent bonding? Statement (1) covalent bonding involves the transfer of electrons. The bonds that are formed are strong and require a lot of energy to break them. Statement (2) covalent bonding involves the transfer of electrons. The bonds that are formed are weak and do not require much energy to break them. Statement (3) covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons. The bonds that are formed are strong and require a lot of energy to break them. Statement (4) covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons. The bonds that are formed are weak and do not require much energy to break them. (A) Statement 1, (B) statement 2, (C) statement 3, or (D) statement 4.

Let’s start by clearing some space. Covalent bonding occurs between nonmetals. For example, a covalent bond forms between two hydrogen atoms to form diatomic gaseous hydrogen. Each neutral atom of hydrogen has one electron. When the atoms react, the two electrons are shared between the two atoms. This means that both atoms have two electrons in their outer shell, so they both have a full outer shell of electrons.

The bond in a hydrogen molecule is a single covalent bond. Double and triple covalent bonds can also form, such as in oxygen and nitrogen, respectively. In all cases, electrons are shared. This allows each atom to have a full outer shell of electrons. Each hydrogen atom has two outer shell electrons. And each atom in both oxygen and nitrogen has eight outer shell electrons.

We have determined that covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons. In fact, covalent bonds can be defined as chemical bonds that are formed when two nonmetal atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. Additionally, although interactions between covalent molecules are often weak and easy to break, covalent bonds are strong and difficult to break.

Now that we know how to describe covalent bonds, let’s bring back the answer choices. We know that covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons. Thus, we can eliminate answer choices (A) and (B), which are statements (1) and (2), respectively, as they state that covalent bonding involves the transfer of electrons. We also know that covalent bonds are strong. Since they are strong, a lot of energy is required to break them. Therefore, statement (3) is correct, and statement (4) is incorrect.

Thus, the statement which correctly describes covalent bonding is (C), statement (3). Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons. The bonds that are formed are strong and require a lot of energy to break them.

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