molecules that are made up of two of the same atom have nonpolar covalent bonds. Which statement best explains this property?
A. The atoms have the same number of valence electrons.
B. No electrons are shared between the atoms.
C. One of the atoms transfers electrons to the other atom.********
D. The atoms have the same electronegativity.
The correct answer is D. The atoms have the same electronegativity.
To understand why this statement best explains the nonpolar covalent bonds in molecules made up of two of the same atom, we need to understand the concept of electronegativity. Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond.
In a nonpolar covalent bond, the atoms share electrons equally because they have the same or very similar electronegativities. This means that both atoms have an equal pull on the shared electrons, resulting in a balanced distribution of electron density.
Option A ("The atoms have the same number of valence electrons") is not the best explanation because while having the same number of valence electrons is a factor in determining the bonding between atoms, it does not directly explain why the covalent bond is nonpolar.
Option B ("No electrons are shared between the atoms") is incorrect because a covalent bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms. In nonpolar covalent bonds, electrons are shared, but they are shared equally between the atoms.
Option C ("One of the atoms transfers electrons to the other atom") is incorrect because it describes an ionic bond, not a nonpolar covalent bond. In an ionic bond, electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of ions.
Option D ("The atoms have the same electronegativity") is the best explanation because nonpolar covalent bonds occur when the participating atoms have similar electronegativities, which results in an equal sharing of electrons.