When sulfur and oxygen atoms combine to form a compound, what type of chemical bond is most likely to form between them?

• A. Covalent bond
• B. Ionic bond
• C. Metallic bond
• D. Hydrogen bond

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of elements involved: sulfur and oxygen are both nonmetals.
2. Recall that when two nonmetal atoms combine, they tend to share electrons rather than transfer them, leading to covalent bonding.
3. Understand that ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals due to electron transfer, which is not the case here.
4. Recognize that metallic bonds occur between metal atoms, so they are not relevant for sulfur and oxygen.
5. Note that hydrogen bonds are a type of intermolecular force, not a primary chemical bond between atoms like sulfur and oxygen.