Which of the compounds below has bonds with the most covalent character? A) NaCl B) LiCl C) CaCl₂ D) BeCl₂ E) MgCl₂

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Covalent character refers to the sharing of electrons between atoms. The more electronegative an atom is, the more it will attract electrons towards itself, creating a more polar bond. Therefore, the smaller the electronegativity difference between two elements, the more covalent their bond will be. In this case, Be has a smaller electronegativity than Mg, Ca, Li, and Na, and therefore will form a more covalent bond with Cl. Among the compounds listed, BeCl2 has the highest covalent character.

Which of the Compounds Below Has Bonds with the Most