Question

To answer this question, you may need access to the periodic table of elements.

Which of these pairs of atoms would experience a pure covalent bond?

a.) C and O
b.) Br and Br
c.) H and Cl
d.) Na and Cl

Answer 1

b.) Br and Br

Step-by-step explanation:

A covalent bond occurs when electrons are shared between two atoms causing them to form a bond.

A "pure" covalent bond refers to a nonpolar covalent bond. In these bonds, the electrons are shared equally between two atoms as a result of the absence of an (or very small) electronegativity difference. The purest covalent bond would therefore be between two atoms of the same electronegativity. Two bromines (Br) have the same electronegativity, thus making it the purest covalent bond.

Polar covalent bonds occur when electrons are shared unequally between two atoms. There is a larger electronegativity difference between the two atoms, but not large enough to classify the bonds as ionic. In this case, a.) and c.) are polar covalent bonds and d.) is an ionic bond.