Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) A covalent bond is formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
B) A pair of electrons involved in a covalent bond are sometimes referred to as "lone pairs."
C) It is not possible for two atoms to share more than two electrons.
D) Single bonds are shorter than double bonds.
E) A covalent bond has a lower potential energy than the two separate atoms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A covalent bond involves a sharing of electrons between two atoms, not a transfer of electrons as in an ionic bond (choice A is false). "Lone pairs" refer to electrons that are not involved in bonding, and are not part of a covalent bond (choice B is false). It is possible for two atoms to share more than two electrons, as in a triple bond (choice C is false). Double bonds are shorter than single bonds due to the stronger attraction between the shared electrons and the nuclei of the two atoms (choice D is false). Covalent bonds have lower potential energy than the two separate atoms because they involve a release of energy as the shared electrons "fall" to a lower energy state between the two nuclei (choice E is true).

Which of the Following Statements Is TRUE