Question

Why \[{H_2}\] is a nonpolar covalent bond?

Answer 1

Hint: We need to know that a nonpolar covalent bond is a type of chemical bond that is formed when electrons are shared equally between two atoms. Thus, in an atom, the number of electrons shared by the adjacent atoms will be the same. The covalent bond is also termed as nonpolar because the difference in electronegativity is mostly negligible.

Complete answer:
\[{H_2}\] is a non-polar molecule because of the linear geometrical structure and the same electronegativity of both hydrogen atoms due to which they share an equal proportion of the charge resulting in the net-zero dipole moment making it a nonpolar molecule.

When molecules are symmetrical, however, the atoms pull equally on the electrons and the charge distribution is uniform. Symmetrical molecules are nonpolar. Because nonpolar molecules share their charges evenly, they do not react to electrostatic charges like water does. Covalent molecules made of only one type of atom, like hydrogen gas (\[{H_2}\]), are nonpolar because the hydrogen atoms share their electrons equally. Molecules made of more than one type of covalently bonded nonmetal atoms, like carbon dioxide gas (\[C{O_2}\]), remain nonpolar if they are symmetrical or if their atoms have relatively equal pull. Even large compounds like hexane gasoline (\[{C_6}{H_{14}}\]), are symmetrical and nonpolar. Electrostatic charges do not seem to have much, if any, effect on nonpolar compounds.

Note:
We have to remember that the hydrogen atom has a certain electronegativity (how much it pulls electrons to itself in a compound). However, \[{H_2}\] involves two identical atoms, each having an identical pull on the electrons being shared. An example of a nonpolar covalent bond is the bond between two hydrogen atoms because they equally share the electrons.