Chapter U2, Problem 3STP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The statement that best describes about the valence electrons in a covalent bond needs to be selected.

Concept introduction:

The interactions that results in the association of atoms into ions, molecules, compounds, crystals and other species are known as chemical bonding.

Answer to Problem 3STP

The correct option is (b), the valence electrons are shared between non-metal atoms.

Explanation of Solution

The bond formed due to equal sharing of electrons between two atoms is said to be a covalent bond. The sharing of electrons between the atoms takes place in order to achieve stability by completing their octets and then having electronic configuration similar to noble gases. Generally, the elements that are incapable of transferring electrons are those which possess very high ionization energies and elements that are incapable of adding up an electron are those which have very low electron affinity. The atoms of these elements tend to share their electrons with the atoms of same or other elements.

Since, the metals have tendency to lose electrons easily and attain stable configuration so, they completely transfer their electron(s) to the elements that attain stability by gaining electron(s) and thus resulting in the formation of ionic bond.

Hence, when there is no element in a compound which is metal then there is no atom that have low ionization energy.To lose electron easily in such cases, covalent bond formation takes place, that is, covalent bonding takes place in between two non-metallic elements. These elements share valence electrons and obtain the noble gas configuration (stable octet).