Which type of bond joins two oxygen atoms in an O2 molecule?

• A. Double covalent bond
• B. Ionic bond
• C. Hydrogen bond
• D. Single covalent bond

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that a bond between two atoms involves the sharing or transfer of electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.
2. Identify the type of atoms involved: both are oxygen atoms, which are nonmetals with similar electronegativities.
3. Since both atoms are nonmetals and have similar electronegativity, they tend to share electrons rather than transfer them, indicating a covalent bond rather than an ionic bond.
4. Determine the number of shared electron pairs by considering the octet rule: each oxygen atom needs 8 electrons in its valence shell, and each oxygen atom has 6 valence electrons, so they share two pairs of electrons to complete their octets.
5. Conclude that the bond between the two oxygen atoms in O2 is a double covalent bond, meaning two pairs of electrons are shared between the atoms.