Which of the following statements regarding chemical bonds and their terminology is false?

• A. Bond length is defined as the energy required to break a bond between two atoms.
• B. A covalent bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.
• C. An ionic bond is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another.
• D. Bond polarity refers to the unequal sharing of electrons in a covalent bond.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Review the definition of bond length: Bond length is the average distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms. It is a measure of distance, not energy.
2. Understand bond energy (or bond dissociation energy): This is the energy required to break a bond between two atoms, which is different from bond length.
3. Recall the nature of a covalent bond: It involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, which holds the atoms together.
4. Recall the nature of an ionic bond: It is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in oppositely charged ions that attract each other.
5. Understand bond polarity: It refers to the unequal sharing of electrons in a covalent bond, leading to partial positive and negative charges on the atoms involved.