Video Transcript
Chlorine molecules consist of two
chlorine atoms connected by a single covalent bond. Use your knowledge of how a
covalent bond is formed to select the diagram that shows a covalent bond formed by
the correct electrons from the correct atom.
We’ve been given five diagrams
labeled from (A) to (E). The question mentions covalent
bonds. Covalent bonds are chemical bonds
that are formed when two nonmetal atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. A single covalent bond involves the
sharing of two electrons. A double bond involves the sharing
of four electrons. And a triple bond involves the
sharing of six electrons.
The question states that chlorine
atoms are connected by a single covalent bond. Therefore, two electrons are
shared. The diagrams in answer choices (D)
and (E) depict the sharing of four and six electrons, respectively. Therefore, neither (D) nor (E) is
the answer to this question. In a typical single covalent bond,
both atoms involved in bonding donate one electron. This is how two chlorine atoms
bond, rather than both electrons coming from the same atom, as shown in answer
choices (A) and (B). The sharing of electrons in answer
choices (A) and (B) is different from the sharing of electrons in chlorine.
Therefore, the diagram that
correctly represents the bonding between two chlorine atoms is (C).
