Question

1. experiment: turn off show polar molecule inset and show nonpolar molecule inset. check that show valence electrons is turned on. drag the na and cl atoms into the simulation area. click play. note the colors. red indicates a negative charge, while blue indicates a positive charge.

a. what happens to sodium (na) valence electron?
b. try several other metal/nonmetal combinations. what do you notice about the bonds that form?
in ionic bonds, the nonmetal atom pulls electrons so much more strongly than the metal atom that electrons are completely transferred to the nonmetal atom. drag each of these combinations into the ionic bond bin on the upper right of the gizmo
(activity a continued on next page)
activity a (continued from previous page)

1. experiment: now try forming bonds between different combinations of nonmetals.

a. what do you notice?
b. are all of these bonds polar? explain.
c. which nonmetal appears to attract electrons the most?

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze sodium - chlorine bond

Sodium (Na) has 1 valence electron. Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons. Chlorine is highly electronegative. So, sodium's valence electron is transferred to chlorine.

Step2: Analyze metal - non - metal bonds

In metal - non - metal combinations, the non - metal with higher electronegativity pulls electrons from the metal. This results in the formation of ionic bonds where electrons are completely transferred.

Step3: Analyze non - metal combinations

When non - metals combine, they share electrons to form covalent bonds.

Step4: Determine polarity of non - metal bonds

Not all non - metal bonds are polar. If the two non - metals have the same or very similar electronegativities, the bond is non - polar as the electrons are shared equally. For example, in $H_2$, the H - H bond is non - polar.

Step5: Identify most electronegative non - metal

Fluorine is the most electronegative non - metal and attracts electrons the most.

Answer:

A. The sodium valence electron is transferred to the chlorine atom.
B. Ionic bonds are formed, with electrons completely transferred from the metal to the non - metal.

1. A. Covalent bonds are formed as non - metals share electrons.

B. No, not all are polar. If non - metals have similar electronegativities, electrons are shared equally and the bond is non - polar.
C. Fluorine.