Which statement about covalent compounds is false?

• A. Covalent compounds are formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.
• B. Covalent compounds generally have low melting and boiling points.
• C. Covalent compounds are often insoluble in water.
• D. Covalent compounds conduct electricity well in aqueous solution.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what covalent compounds are. Covalent compounds are formed when atoms share electrons to achieve stable electron configurations, typically between nonmetal atoms.
2. Step 2: Review the typical physical properties of covalent compounds. They usually have low melting and boiling points because the intermolecular forces between molecules are relatively weak compared to ionic bonds.
3. Step 3: Consider the solubility of covalent compounds. Many covalent compounds are nonpolar or have limited polarity, making them often insoluble or only slightly soluble in water, which is a polar solvent.
4. Step 4: Analyze electrical conductivity. Covalent compounds generally do not conduct electricity well in aqueous solution because they do not produce ions when dissolved, unlike ionic compounds which dissociate into charged particles.
5. Step 5: Identify the false statement. Since covalent compounds do not conduct electricity well in aqueous solution, the statement claiming they do is false.