Which of the following is most likely to exhibit covalent bonding?

A. [tex]NaF[/tex]

B. [tex]CaCl_2[/tex]

C. [tex]Cs_2O[/tex]

D. [tex]CO_2[/tex]

E. [tex]NaCl[/tex]



Answer :

To determine which of the given compounds is most likely to exhibit covalent bonding, we need to understand the nature of covalent bonding. Covalent bonding typically occurs between non-metal atoms that share electrons to achieve stability.

1. NaF (Sodium Fluoride):
- Sodium (Na) is a metal.
- Fluorine (F) is a non-metal.
- The bond between a metal and a non-metal is ionic.

2. CaCl₂ (Calcium Chloride):
- Calcium (Ca) is a metal.
- Chlorine (Cl) is a non-metal.
- The bond between a metal and a non-metal is ionic.

3. Cs₂O (Cesium Oxide):
- Cesium (Cs) is a metal.
- Oxygen (O) is a non-metal.
- The bond between a metal and a non-metal is ionic.

4. CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide):
- Carbon (C) is a non-metal.
- Oxygen (O) is a non-metal.
- The bond between non-metal atoms tends to be covalent, as they share electrons to achieve stability.

5. NaCl (Sodium Chloride):
- Sodium (Na) is a metal.
- Chlorine (Cl) is a non-metal.
- The bond between a metal and a non-metal is ionic.

From the above analysis, we can determine that CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) involves bonding between two non-metals (carbon and oxygen), which is indicative of covalent bonding. Therefore, among the given choices, CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) is the compound most likely to exhibit covalent bonding.

The position of CO₂ within the list of options (0-indexed) is 3. Thus, CO₂ is the compound most likely to exhibit covalent bonding.

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