Moderate

The maximum covalency is equal to :

Correct answer: D. The actual number of s-and p-electrons in the outermost shell.

  • A. The number of unpaired p-electrons
  • B. The number of paired d-electrons
  • C. The number of unpaired s-and p-electrons
  • D. The actual number of s-and p-electrons in the outermost shell.

Explanation

In chemical bonding, atoms can share electrons to form covalent bonds. The number of covalent bonds an atom can form, known as its covalency, depends on the number of available valence electrons. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level or shell of an atom.For elements in the s and p blocks of the periodic table (groups 1-7 and 13-18), the valence electrons are found in the s and p orbitals, respectively. The s orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, and each p orbital can hold a maximum of 6 electrons.To determine the number of valence electrons for an atom, you can look at its position in the periodic table. The group number tells you the number of valence electrons for elements in groups 1-18. For example, elements in group 1 have 1 valence electron, elements in group 14 have 4 valence electrons, and elements in group 17 have 7 valence electrons.The maximum covalency of an atom is related to its valence electrons because covalent bonds are formed by sharing these electrons. The general rule is that the maximum covalency can be determined by dividing the number of valence electrons by 2. This is because each covalent bond involves the sharing of two electrons-one from each atom.

Last updated

About Chemical Bonding

Chemical bonding explains molecular shape through VSEPR theory and distinguishes sigma bonds from pi bonds. Questions involve hybridization, bond angles, dipole moment and bond energy, including how electron-pair repulsion determines geometry and how bond polarity differs from the overall polarity of a molecule.

Practise Chemical Bonding

964 free Chemical Bonding MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this

Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions