What determines whether the sharing of electrons in a covalent bond is equal or unequal?

What determines whether the sharing of electrons in a covalent bond is equal or unequal?

• A. Electronegativity
• B. Ionization Energy
• C. Atomic Radius
• D. Atomic Mass

Answer: (A)

Electronegativity difference between the two atoms determines how equally the shared electrons are shared. If the atoms have similar electronegativities, the electrons spend roughly equal time around both nuclei, giving a nonpolar covalent bond. If one atom is more electronegative, it pulls the shared electrons toward itself, creating a polar covalent bond with partial charges. A very large difference can lead to ionic character, where electrons are effectively transferred. Ionization energy, atomic radius, and atomic mass influence other properties of atoms or bonding but do not set whether sharing in a covalent bond is equal or unequal.

Electronegativity difference between the two atoms determines how equally the shared electrons are shared. If the atoms have similar electronegativities, the electrons spend roughly equal time around both nuclei, giving a nonpolar covalent bond. If one atom is more electronegative, it pulls the shared electrons toward itself, creating a polar covalent bond with partial charges. A very large difference can lead to ionic character, where electrons are effectively transferred.

Ionization energy, atomic radius, and atomic mass influence other properties of atoms or bonding but do not set whether sharing in a covalent bond is equal or unequal.