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In a chlorine molecule the two bonded atoms are identical. How are the bonding electrons shared?
AMostly by one of the atoms
BNot shared but transferred
COnly during part of the time
DEqually between the two atoms
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Equally between the two atoms
1. Both atoms in Cl2 are chlorine, so they pull on electrons with exactly the same strength.
2. With no imbalance in pull, the shared pair sits equally near each nucleus.
3. That even sharing is what makes the bond a pure covalent bond.
4. A transfer of electrons would give ions instead, and no ions form between two identical atoms.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Chs 7 and 17, section 7.2 Covalent Bonding_
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