Which of the following elements can bond with titanium (Ti) to form a polar covalent bond?

• A. Magnesium (Mg)
• B. Iron (Fe)
• C. Zinc (Zn)
• D. Oxygen (O)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of bonding between elements by considering their electronegativity values. Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract shared electrons in a bond.
2. Step 2: Recall that a polar covalent bond forms when two atoms have a moderate difference in electronegativity, typically between about 0.5 and 1.7 on the Pauling scale. If the difference is very small, the bond is nonpolar covalent; if very large, the bond is ionic.
3. Step 3: Look up or recall the electronegativity values of titanium (Ti) and the given elements: Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), and Oxygen (O).
4. Step 4: Calculate the difference in electronegativity between titanium and each element. For example, \(\Delta EN = |EN_{Ti} - EN_{X}|\), where \(X\) is the other element.
5. Step 5: Identify which element has an electronegativity difference with titanium that falls within the range for polar covalent bonding. The element with the appropriate difference will form a polar covalent bond with titanium.