Which of the following correctly identifies the chemical bond between a carbon and oxygen atom?

• A. Polar Covalent
• B. Pure Covalent
• C. Nonpolar Covalent
• D. Ionic

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the types of chemical bonds. Ionic bonds form between metals and nonmetals with large differences in electronegativity, covalent bonds form between nonmetals by sharing electrons, and covalent bonds can be polar or nonpolar depending on the difference in electronegativity between the atoms.
2. Step 2: Identify the elements involved: carbon (C) and oxygen (O) are both nonmetals, so the bond between them is covalent rather than ionic.
3. Step 3: Determine the electronegativity values of carbon and oxygen. Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, meaning it attracts shared electrons more strongly.
4. Step 4: Calculate or estimate the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen. If the difference is moderate (typically between 0.4 and 1.7), the bond is polar covalent; if it is very small (less than 0.4), the bond is nonpolar covalent.
5. Step 5: Since oxygen is significantly more electronegative than carbon, the bond between them is polar covalent, meaning electrons are shared unequally, creating a dipole moment.