Question

What type of bonding would you expect between the following pairs of elements?
(i) Calcium and Oxygen
(ii) Carbon and Chlorine
(iii) Hydrogen and Chlorine

Answer 1

(i) Calcium and oxygen react to form calcium oxide (CaO) by ionic bonding. Calcium contains two electrons in its outermost shell and oxygen contains six electrons in its outermost shell. So the calcium atom transfers two electrons to the oxygen atom to attain the noble gas configuration for both atoms.

(ii) Carbon and chlorine react to form carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) by covalent bonding. Carbon contains four electrons in its outermost shell and chlorine contains seven electron in its outermost shell. So carbon shares electrons electrons with four chlorine atoms (one electron from each chlorine atom) to attain stability.

(iii) Hydrogen and chlorine react to form (HCl) by covalent bonding. Hydrogen contains one electron in its outermost shell and chlorine also contains one electron in its outermost shell. So the hydrogen and chlorine atoms share one electron from each atom to attain stability.