The bond in which of the following pairs of atoms would be the least polar (i.e., lowest percent ionic character)?
A)C - Cl
B)C - C
C)C - H
D)O - C
E)N - C

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The percent ionic character of a bond depends on the electronegativity difference between the atoms involved. The lower the difference in electronegativity, the lower the percent ionic character. Among the given options, carbon (C) has the lowest electronegativity (2.5) compared to the other atoms. Therefore, the bond between C and F, S, H, or N would have higher electronegativity differences and higher percent ionic character than the bond between two carbon atoms (C-C), making option B the least polar bond.

The Bond in Which of the Following Pairs of Atoms