Question

According to your textbook, how many of the following are properties of covalent compounds:
a. *Can be gas, liquid or solid at room temperature
b. *Does not conduct electricity
c. *Exist as an extended array of atoms
d. *Involves the sharing of electrons

Answer 1

Answer:

a, b and d are correct.

Explanation:

There are two types of attractive forces in covalent compounds:

• The force that holds the atoms together in a molecule (the covalent bond).

• The force that operates between molecules, called an intermolecular force.

Because intermolecular forces are usually quite weak compared with the forces holding atoms together within a molecule, molecules of a covalent compound are not held together tightly. Consequently, covalent compounds are usually gases, liquids, or low-melting solids.

Most covalent compounds aqueous solutions generally do not conduct electricity, because the compounds are nonelectrolytes.