Question

Which of the following pairs of atoms would exhibit ionic bonding?

hydrogen and oxygen
oxygen and oxygen
strontium and oxygen
nitrogen and oxygen

Answer 1

Typically, elements from Groups 1 and 2 form ionic bonds with elements from Groups 13 through 17. We typically see ionic bonding when the difference in electronegativity between the two elements is greater than 1.

Answer 2

So I'm thinking it's either hydrogen and oxygen or stronium and oxygen based on what you said..

Answer 3

Correct. It is one of those two. But what do we known about the bonding of oxygen and hydrogen? Think water.

Another hint. The electronegativity of H = 2.2 and O = 3.02

Answer 4

Hydrogen and oxygen. Since they create water when bonded, right?

Answer 5

They create water, yes. However, they form covalent bonds. The difference in their electronegativity is 0.8. Close to 1, but not quite. Furthermore, as an extra tid bit of information, because they do have a high difference in electronegativity, they form a polar covalent bond. Which means the molecule has a positive and negative pole (kind of like a magnent). This allows molecules of water to stick together through hydrogen bonding. This hydrogen bonding is what allows us to puddle up a bubble of water on top of a penny without the water running off the penny. http://larrys8thgradepage.blogspot.com/2009/04/observing-waters-properties-on-penny.html

Answer 6

That makes more sense, thank you. Would you be able to help me with a few more questions? I'm completely lost when it comes to chemistry.

Answer 7

Sure. You got the answer for that last one as being Strontium and Oxygen right?

Answer 8

Yes, because stronium has an electronegativity of 0.95 which is close to 1 (higher than hydrogen), at least that was what I was assuming. Unless there was something else that contributed to the answer..

Answer 9

It is the fact that the difference between stronium's and oxygen's electronegativity is greater than one. 3 - 1 = 2. It is that and the fact that stronium comes from group 1 or 2 and oxygen comes from group 13 through 17. Elements from these two ends of the periodic table in general form ionic bonds. We saw that hydrogen is the exception.