Question

which of the following elements will most likely form a covalent bond?
○potassium and oxygen
○nitrogen and chlorine
○sulfur and magnesium
○helium and calcium
○copper and carbon

Explanation:

To determine which elements form a covalent bond, we recall that covalent bonds typically form between nonmetals (atoms share electrons), while ionic bonds form between a metal and a nonmetal (electrons are transferred).

• Potassium (metal) and oxygen (nonmetal): Likely ionic.
• Nitrogen (nonmetal) and chlorine (nonmetal): Both nonmetals, so likely covalent.
• Sulfur (nonmetal) and magnesium (metal): Likely ionic.
• Helium (noble gas, stable) and calcium (metal): Unlikely to bond, and if they did, not covalent.
• Copper (metal) and carbon (nonmetal): Likely ionic or metallic/covalent with complexity, but less likely than N and Cl.

Answer:

B. nitrogen and chlorine