Which of the following best describes the relationship between oxygen and chlorine in terms of chemical bonding?

• A. Both oxygen and chlorine typically form covalent bonds by sharing electrons.
• B. Oxygen forms ionic bonds while chlorine forms metallic bonds.
• C. Oxygen and chlorine always form ionic bonds with each other.
• D. Chlorine tends to lose electrons while oxygen tends to gain electrons in chemical bonds.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the types of chemical bonds. Ionic bonds form when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, typically between metals and nonmetals. Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons, usually between nonmetals.
2. Step 2: Identify the nature of oxygen and chlorine. Both oxygen and chlorine are nonmetals, which means they tend to form covalent bonds by sharing electrons rather than transferring them completely.
3. Step 3: Analyze the bonding tendencies of oxygen. Oxygen typically forms two covalent bonds to complete its octet by sharing electrons with other atoms.
4. Step 4: Analyze the bonding tendencies of chlorine. Chlorine usually forms one covalent bond by sharing one electron to complete its octet.
5. Step 5: Conclude that both oxygen and chlorine form covalent bonds by sharing electrons, making the statement 'Both oxygen and chlorine typically form covalent bonds by sharing electrons' the best description of their bonding behavior.