Which of the following diatomic molecules is joined by a double covalent bond?

• A. F2
• B. H2
• C. O2
• D. N2

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of covalent bonds: Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms. A single covalent bond shares one pair of electrons, a double covalent bond shares two pairs, and a triple covalent bond shares three pairs.
2. Identify the number of bonds typically formed by each element: Oxygen (O) typically forms two bonds, nitrogen (N) typically forms three bonds, hydrogen (H) forms one bond, and fluorine (F) forms one bond.
3. Analyze the molecular structure of each diatomic molecule: For O2, each oxygen atom shares two pairs of electrons, forming a double covalent bond. For N2, each nitrogen atom shares three pairs of electrons, forming a triple covalent bond. For H2 and F2, each molecule forms a single covalent bond.
4. Use the Lewis structure to visualize the bonding: Draw the Lewis structure for O2, showing two pairs of shared electrons between the oxygen atoms, indicating a double bond.
5. Conclude which molecule has a double covalent bond: Based on the analysis, O2 is the molecule that is joined by a double covalent bond.