Question

The electronic configurations of two elements A and B are given below:

A	2, 6
B	2, 8, 1

1. What type of chemical bond is formed between the two atoms of A?
2. What type of chemical bond will be formed between the atoms of A and B?

Answer 1

1. Two atoms of A will form a covalent bond. Element A has 6 valence electrons and needs 2 more to complete its octet. Two atoms of A share two electrons each to form a stable double covalent bond (A=A).
2. Element A and Element B will form an ionic bond. Element B (2, 8, 1) transfers its 1 valence electron to Element A (2, 6). Since A requires 2 electrons, two atoms of B are needed to transfer 1 electron each to one atom of A, creating a compound with the formula (B₂A).