What is a nonpolar covalent bond?

What is a nonpolar covalent bond?

• A. Electrons are transferred from one atom to another.
• B. Electrons are shared unequally due to different electronegativities.
• C. Electrons are shared in a polar covalent bond.
• D. Electrons are shared equally due to similar electronegativities.

Answer: (D)

Nonpolar covalent bonding happens when two atoms share electrons equally because their electronegativities are very similar. When neither atom pulls the shared electrons more strongly, the electrons spend about the same amount of time around each nucleus, so there’s no partial charge on either atom. That makes the bond nonpolar. So this description—electrons shared equally due to similar electronegativities—best matches what a nonpolar covalent bond is. If electrons were transferred from one atom to another, you’d have ionic bonding. If electrons are shared but pulled more toward one atom, you’d have a polar covalent bond.

Nonpolar covalent bonding happens when two atoms share electrons equally because their electronegativities are very similar. When neither atom pulls the shared electrons more strongly, the electrons spend about the same amount of time around each nucleus, so there’s no partial charge on either atom. That makes the bond nonpolar.

So this description—electrons shared equally due to similar electronegativities—best matches what a nonpolar covalent bond is. If electrons were transferred from one atom to another, you’d have ionic bonding. If electrons are shared but pulled more toward one atom, you’d have a polar covalent bond.