Question

We sometimes think of polarity as a continuum

of possibilities with completely non-polar bonds
at one extreme and ionic bonds at the other
extreme, with __ bonds somewhere in the
middle.

Answer 1

The type of bond situated between non-polar and ionic bonds is the polar covalent bond, characterized by an unequal sharing of electrons due to differences in electronegativity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question refers to the type of chemical bonds that exist between the two extremes of non-polar bonds and ionic bonds.

The bond that falls somewhere in the middle is known as a polar covalent bond. In a polar covalent bond, electrons are shared unequally between two atoms due to a difference in electronegativity, which is the ability of an atom to attract shared electrons.

This difference in electronegativity leads to a partial positive or negative charge, making one end of the bond slightly positive (δ+) and the other slightly negative (δ-). The scale used to judge how strongly atoms attract electrons is relative and non-absolute.

A polar covalent bond has an electronegativity difference generally between 0.5 and 1.9, whereas an ionic bond is characterized by an electronegativity difference greater than 1.9. The non-polar covalent bonds have an electronegativity difference less than 0.5, indicating an equal sharing of electrons and no partial charges.