Question

Which one of the following is a covalent compound?
(a) ${{K}_{2}}O$
(b) $C{{l}_{2}}O$
(c) $N{{a}_{2}}O$
(d) $FeO$

Answer 1

Hint: Metals are highly electropositive in nature and have a strong tendency to lose electrons and thus, form ionic bonds. Now, using this concept you can easily identify the covalent compound.

Complete step by step answer:
First of let’s discuss what is a compound. a compound is a substance that is made up of the combination of two or more different types of atoms or molecules. Example:- water molecule, methane, etc., and in a compound, there exist two types of bonds mainly: covalent bond and ionic bond.
Now consider the statement as:
- In the above-given options, the potassium in potassium oxide, sodium in sodium oxide, and iron in iron oxide, all are metals and we know that the metals are electropositive in nature and thus, easily loses electrons and forms bonds with the oxygen i.e. they all forms ionic bonds with the oxygen.
- On the other hand, in the case of chlorine oxide, chlorine is a non-metal and will not lose an electron, rather will share an electron with the oxygen so that it can complete its octet and thus forms a covalent bond with the oxygen. So, thus, from all the above-given compounds, $C{{l}_{2}}O$ is a covalent compound. So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: Don’t get confused in the covalent and ionic bonds. The covalent bond is formed by the sharing of the electrons and the ionic bond is bound by the loss or gain of electrons i.e. one atom in the bond acquires a partial positive charge and the other atom in the bond acquires a partial negative charge.