Which statement best describes how the bond between two oxygen atoms in an O2 molecule is formed?

• A. One oxygen atom donates two electrons to the other, forming an ionic bond.
• B. The two oxygen atoms share a single electron pair, forming a single covalent bond.
• C. The bond is formed by the transfer of electrons from both atoms to a central atom.
• D. Each oxygen atom shares two electrons with the other, forming a double covalent bond.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the types of chemical bonds: Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, while covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.
2. Recall that oxygen atoms have six valence electrons and need two more electrons to complete their octet, which makes them likely to form bonds by sharing electrons.
3. Recognize that in an O2 molecule, each oxygen atom shares two electrons with the other, resulting in a double covalent bond, which satisfies the octet rule for both atoms.
4. Note that a single covalent bond involves sharing one pair of electrons, but since oxygen needs two pairs to complete its octet, the bond in O2 is a double bond.
5. Conclude that the bond between two oxygen atoms in O2 is best described as a double covalent bond formed by sharing two pairs of electrons, not by electron transfer or single pair sharing.