Which is the only element in group 1 on the periodic table tha...

Question

Which is the only element in group 1 on the periodic table that forms covalent bonds?

Accepted Answer

Welcome back, everyone. We've got a true or false example which states that covalent bonds are formed via the transfer of electrons from a metal to a nonmetal forming ions with opposing charges. Let's start by considering the following example, where we observe a carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. Recall that carbon being in group four A on the periodic table contains a total of four valence electrons or four outer electrons where one of its four electrons is being shared in a bond to hydrogen. Where recall that hydrogen located in group one a of the periodic table has therefore one vals electron take note that carbon and hydrogen are both considered non metal atoms. So because we have two non metal atoms bonded by shared electrons, then that allows us to define that the bond that is shared between these atoms is a covalent bond with that outline. Let's next consider an example of a different type of bond which we will recognize as an ionic bond. And we're going to think of the bonds between a sodium atom to a chlorine atom recall that based on sodium's position in group one, a on the periodic table. It is considered a metal and recall that metals tend to form cats. So we have the sodium plus one ion which should form because a caton is formed from the loss of an electron. And because sodium being in group one, a only has one val electron, we would remove its valence electron to form a sodium Canion. Second, we have chlorine in this compound and chlorine, we would recall based on its position in group seven A on the periodic table is considered a non metal. And recall that nonmetals tend to form an where in this case, chlorine being in group seven A, any atom in group seven A recall will form one minus anion. So we would form our chloride one minus anion. Now how is this bond formed between these two atoms? Well, based on their corresponding ions recall that opposite charges attract. So because opposite charges attract, there is an electrostatic attraction between the oppo opposed charged ions or oppositely charged ions rather. And that electrostatic attraction is what creates this chemical bonds between these two atoms. And what is occurring here is a transfer of electrons where from the lost electron forming the sodium plus one cat ion, that electron gets transferred to the chlorine atom in order to form the chloride anion with its additional electron now forming a one minus charge. So for an ionic bond recalled that it would consist of anions bonded to cat ions where anions are typically nonmetals and cats are typically metals and involves the transfer of electrons. And then on the opposite definition, we have a covalent bond, which we agreed is defined by two nonmetal atoms bonded to each other through shared electrons. Based on what our prompt tells us because it defines a covalent bond as being formed via the transfer of electrons. We would actually correct that statement to say ionic bond based on what we've outlined. And especially because it continues to say that it's from a metal to a nonmetal forming ions with opposing charges. And as we saw in an ionic bond, we've got a metal which forms a cat which is then bonded to a nonmetal. In this case, chlorine that formed an anion. So overall anions bonded to caton, which involved the transfer of electrons between the two. And so to complete this example, we are given a false statement as the final answer. I hope that this made sense and let us know if you have any questions.

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Which is the only element in group 1 on the periodic table that forms covalent bonds?

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