Which of the following can be used to predict the type of bonding in HCI?
Answer Details
The correct option to predict the type of bonding in HCl is electronegativity difference. Bonding occurs when atoms share or transfer electrons to achieve a more stable electron configuration. The electronegativity of an atom is its ability to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. When two atoms with different electronegativity values come together, the atom with higher electronegativity will pull the electrons closer to itself, creating a polar covalent bond. In the case of HCl, hydrogen has an electronegativity value of 2.1, while chlorine has an electronegativity value of 3.0. The difference between these two values is 0.9, which falls in the range of a polar covalent bond.
To summarize, the electronegativity difference between two atoms is a measure of their tendency to form a bond and the type of bond that will form.