Answer:
The bond in NiO (Nickel II Oxide) is likely more potent than the bond in CaO (Calcium Oxide) because of the higher electronegativity of nickel compared to calcium.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electronegativity measures an element's ability to attract electrons in a chemical bond. It follows the general trend of increasing electronegativity from left to right across the periodic table and from bottom to top. Oxygen is highly electronegative, and nickel is more electronegative than calcium.
In calcium oxide (CaO), calcium is a metal with relatively low electronegativity, and oxygen is a nonmetal with a high electronegativity. In nickel(II) oxide (NiO), nickel is also a metal, but it is more electronegative than calcium and bonded to oxygen.
Due to the difference in electronegativity, the oxygen atom in both compounds will have a stronger attraction for electrons, creating a polar covalent bond. However, in the case of NiO, the bond between nickel and oxygen will likely be more potent than the bond between calcium and oxygen due to the higher electronegativity of nickel.