Which term describes a covalent bond formed when electrons are shared equally?

Which term describes a covalent bond formed when electrons are shared equally?

• A. Polar bond
• B. Nonpolar bond
• C. Alloy
• D. Metallic bond

Answer: (B)

When electrons are shared equally between two atoms in a covalent bond, neither atom pulls the shared electrons more strongly than the other, so there’s no partial charge on either atom. This is a nonpolar covalent bond. It happens when the two atoms have similar electronegativities, like in H2 or O2. If sharing were unequal, the bond would be polar covalent, with partial charges on the atoms. An alloy is a mixture and involves metallic bonding, not a covalent bond between two nonmetals. A metallic bond involves a lattice of metal atoms sharing a pool of electrons, not discrete covalent bonds.

When electrons are shared equally between two atoms in a covalent bond, neither atom pulls the shared electrons more strongly than the other, so there’s no partial charge on either atom. This is a nonpolar covalent bond. It happens when the two atoms have similar electronegativities, like in H2 or O2.

If sharing were unequal, the bond would be polar covalent, with partial charges on the atoms. An alloy is a mixture and involves metallic bonding, not a covalent bond between two nonmetals. A metallic bond involves a lattice of metal atoms sharing a pool of electrons, not discrete covalent bonds.