Question

In a covalent compound which is true? (a) only atoms of the same element are present (b) adjacent atoms share electron pairs (c) there must be at least one carbon atom (d) electrons are shifted from one atom to another

Answer 1

In a covalent compound, adjacent atoms share electron pairs to form a covalent bond. This sharing occurs to fill the valence shells of both atoms, leading to increased stability.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a covalent compound, the correct statement is that adjacent atoms share electron pairs. Covalent bonding occurs when two nonmetal atoms come together to share electrons in order to achieve a full valence shell, leading to increased stability. A simple example is the hydrogen molecule (H-H), where two hydrogen atoms share their single electrons in a single covalent bond. There is no requirement for the atoms to be of the same element, for carbon to be present, or for electrons to be transferred as they would be in an ionic bond.