What’s the bond type of magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas

Answer 1

Hi, Bina!

Let's start by defining bond types, and in order to distinguish the bond types, we need to quickly talk about electronegativity. Electronegativity can be thought of as "electron greed," or a molecule's desire to fill it's valence shell. The farther left and down on the periodic table indicates low electronegativity, and the farther right (up to the halogens) and up on the periodic table indicates higher electronegativity. The noble gases are excluded because they have complete outer valence shells. The most electronegative atom is F, and the least electronegative atom is Cs.

1. Non-polar covalent bonding indicates the atoms grouped together have similar electronegativities, so a similar desire to share electrons. Carbon-Hydrogen bonds are a popular example of a non-polar bond.
2. Polar covalent bonding indicates the atoms grouped together are not balanced in their share of the electrons, and one atom has a greater desire for electron density. Oxygen-Hydrogen bonds are a popular example of a polar bond.
3. Ionic bonding is almost magnetic-like in it's behavior, where a highly electronegative molecule is interacting with a low-level electronegative molecule. Metals bonded to non-metals tend to follow this bond type, like NaCl.

MgCl: Mg is a metal, and on the far left end of the periodic table, indicating a low electronegativity. Cl is a non-metal and a halogen, which carries a much higher level of electronegativity. This bond type would behave in an ionic manner.

H2: This is two hydrogens bonded together, with the same electronegativities. Because they are balanced in their share of electrons, their bond would be a non-polar covalent bond.