Which type of bond exists in each compound?
KCl
nonpolar covalent bonds
polar covalent bonds
ionic bonds
BCl3
ionic bonds
nonpolar covalent bonds
polar covalent bonds
Br2
ionic bonds
polar covalent bonds
nonpolar covalent bonds
SO2
polar covalent bonds
nonpolar covalent bonds
ionic bonds
CO
nonpolar covalent bonds
polar covalent bonds
ionic bonds
P4
nonpolar covalent bonds
ionic bonds
polar covalent bonds
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Let’s examine the type of bonds present in each compound and the reasoning behind them.
KCl (Potassium Chloride)
- Ionic Bonds
- Explanation: KCl is made of potassium (K), a metal, and chlorine (Cl), a non-metal. In ionic bonds, one atom donates an electron to another, creating ions. Potassium has a low ionization energy and loses an electron to become K⁺, while chlorine has a high electron affinity and gains the electron to become Cl⁻. The electrostatic attraction between the positively charged potassium ion and the negatively charged chloride ion forms an ionic bond.
BCl₃ (Boron Trichloride)
- Covalent Bonds (Nonpolar and Polar depending on the atoms involved)
- Explanation: BCl₃ consists of boron (B), a metal-like element, and chlorine (Cl), a non-metal. The bonding here is covalent since boron and chlorine share electrons. However, the bond is polar covalent because chlorine is more electronegative than boron, which causes a slight negative charge on chlorine and a partial positive charge on boron.
Br₂ (Bromine)
- Nonpolar Covalent Bonds
- Explanation: Br₂ consists of two bromine atoms. Since the atoms are identical, they have the same electronegativity, meaning they share electrons equally. This results in a nonpolar covalent bond.
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)
- Polar Covalent Bonds
- Explanation: SO₂ consists of sulfur (S) and oxygen (O), both of which are non-metals. Oxygen is more electronegative than sulfur, so the electrons in the covalent bonds between sulfur and oxygen are not shared equally. This results in a polar covalent bond, with oxygen becoming slightly negative and sulfur becoming slightly positive.
CO (Carbon Monoxide)
- Polar Covalent Bonds
- Explanation: CO consists of carbon (C) and oxygen (O), where oxygen is more electronegative than carbon. Thus, the shared electrons in the bond are pulled more toward the oxygen, making the bond polar covalent.
P₄ (Tetraphosphorus)
- Nonpolar Covalent Bonds
- Explanation: P₄ consists of four phosphorus atoms. Since the atoms are identical, they share electrons equally. As a result, the bonding in P₄ is nonpolar covalent.
Summary:
- KCl: Ionic bond (Metal and non-metal)
- BCl₃: Polar covalent bonds (due to electronegativity difference)
- Br₂: Nonpolar covalent bonds (identical atoms sharing electrons equally)
- SO₂: Polar covalent bonds (due to electronegativity difference between sulfur and oxygen)
- CO: Polar covalent bonds (due to electronegativity difference between carbon and oxygen)
- P₄: Nonpolar covalent bonds (identical atoms sharing electrons equally)