Multiple Choice
What type of chemical bonds are formed when electrons are shared equally between atoms?
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Chemical Bonds
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How does a polar covalent bond differ from a non-polar covalent bond?
A
A polar covalent bond occurs between metals, while a non-polar covalent bond occurs between nonmetals.
B
A polar covalent bond has unequal sharing of electrons, while a non-polar covalent bond has equal sharing of electrons.
C
A polar covalent bond involves the transfer of electrons, while a non-polar covalent bond involves the sharing of electrons.
D
A polar covalent bond has a higher bond energy than a non-polar covalent bond.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the key characteristic of a polar covalent bond: it involves the unequal sharing of electrons between atoms. This occurs because one atom has a higher electronegativity than the other, pulling the shared electrons closer to itself.
Contrast this with a non-polar covalent bond, where the electrons are shared equally between the atoms. This typically happens when the atoms involved have similar or identical electronegativities.
Understand that the difference in electronegativity between the atoms in a polar covalent bond creates a dipole moment, where one end of the bond is slightly negative and the other end is slightly positive.
Recognize that in a non-polar covalent bond, there is no significant difference in electronegativity, so the electron distribution is even, and no dipole moment is created.
Clarify that both polar and non-polar covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons, not the transfer, which distinguishes them from ionic bonds where electrons are transferred from one atom to another.
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