Textbook Question
Based on bond energies, which atmospheric gas in each pair do you think is more stable? Explain.a. O2 or N2b. CO or CO2
10. Chemical Bonding
Multiple Bonds
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Identify the least stable covalent bond.
A
N–C
B
F–Na
C
N=C
D
N≡C
E
all same strength
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms. The stability of a covalent bond is influenced by factors such as bond order, electronegativity differences, and atomic size.
Recognize that bond order refers to the number of shared electron pairs between two atoms. A higher bond order generally indicates a stronger and more stable bond.
Analyze the given options: N–C, F–Na, N=C, N≡C, and 'all same strength'. Note that F–Na is not a covalent bond; it is an ionic bond due to the large electronegativity difference between F and Na.
Compare the bond orders: N–C is a single bond (bond order of 1), N=C is a double bond (bond order of 2), and N≡C is a triple bond (bond order of 3). Higher bond orders typically mean stronger bonds.
Conclude that among the covalent bonds, the N–C single bond is the least stable due to its lower bond order compared to the double and triple bonds. Therefore, the least stable covalent bond is N–C.
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