Question

The bonds in a molecule of oxygen are what kind of bond?

Answer 1

There are two types of bonds, Ionic and Covalent. Ionic bonds are bonds formed between negatively charged and positively charged atoms. This is the case because negative charges and positive charges are attracted to each other. Covalent bonds are bonds between atoms that share electrons. Covalent bonds between atoms must have a full set of valence electrons. To do this atoms share electrons to complete their outermost layer. These electrons that are in the outermost layer are called Valence Electrons. Oxygen is in period 2 group 16. Elements in group 16 have 6 valence electrons (when reading a periodic table to find the amount of valence electrons an element has, disregard the transition metals). To make up a full set of Valence Electrons, the atoms must gain 2 more electrons. So when a molecule of oxygen forms, both atoms share two electrons. This completes the outermost layer of both atoms and essentially bonds them. When both atoms of a molecule only share one electron each, the molecule is single bonded. In this case it is double bonded as both atoms share two electrons each.