Chapter 11 Theories of Covalent Bonding

Student: ______________________________________________________________________
1.

According to valence bond theory, which orbitals on N and H overlap in the NH3
molecule?
A. 2p on N overlaps with 2s on H
B. 2p on N overlaps with 1s on H
C. 2s on N overlaps with 1s on H
D. sp3 on N overlaps with sp on H
E. sp3 on N overlaps with 1s on H

2.

A molecule with the formula AX2 uses _________ to form its bonds.
A. sp hybrid orbitals
B. sp2 hybrid orbitals
C. sp3 hybrid orbitals
D. sp3d hybrid orbitals
E. sp3d2 hybrid orbitals

3.

A molecule with the formula AX3 uses __________ to form its bonds.
A. sp hybrid orbitals
B. sp2 hybrid orbitals
C. sp3 hybrid orbitals
D. sp3d hybrid orbitals
E. sp3d2 hybrid orbitals

4.

A molecule with the formula AX4 uses _________ to form its bonds.
A. sp hybrid orbitals
B. sp2 hybrid orbitals
C. sp3 hybrid orbitals
D. sp3d hybrid orbitals
E. sp3d2 hybrid orbitals

5.

A molecule with the formula AX3E uses _________ to form its bonds.
A. s and p atomic orbitals
B. sp3 hybrid orbitals
C. sp2 hybrid orbitals
D. sp hybrid orbitals
E. sp3d2 hybrid orbitals

6.

A molecule with the formula AX4E uses _________ to form its bonds.
A. sp2 hybrid orbitals
B. sp3 hybrid orbitals
C. sp3d hybrid orbitals
D. sp3d2 hybrid orbitals
E. None of these choices is correct.

7.

A molecule with the formula AX4E2 uses _________ to form its bonds.
A. sp hybrid orbitals
B. sp2 hybrid orbitals
C. sp3 hybrid orbitals
D. sp3d hybrid orbitals
E. sp3d2 hybrid orbitals

8.

Carbon uses ______ hybrid orbitals in ClCN.

A. sp
B. sp2
C. sp3
D. sp3d
E. sp3d2

9.

Valence bond theory predicts that carbon will use _____ hybrid orbitals in the carbonate
anion, CO32.
A. sp
B. sp2
C. sp3
D. sp3d
E. sp3d2

10. Valence bond theory predicts that sulfur will use _____ hybrid orbitals in sulfur dioxide,
SO2.
A. sp
B. sp2
C. sp3
D. sp3d
E. sp3d2
11. When PCl5 solidifies it forms PCl4+ cations and PCl6 anions. According to valence bond
theory, what hybrid orbitals are used by phosphorus in the PCl4+ cations?
A. sp
B. sp2
C. sp3
D. sp3d
E. sp3d2

12. Valence bond theory predicts that tin will use _____ hybrid orbitals in SnCl3.
A. sp
B. sp2
C. sp3
D. sp3d
E. sp3d2
13. Valence bond theory predicts that tin will use _____ hybrid orbitals in SnF5.
A. sp2
B. sp3
C. sp3d
D. sp3d2
E. d2sp3
14. Valence bond theory predicts that iodine will use _____ hybrid orbitals in ICl2.
A. sp2
B. sp3
C. sp3d
D. sp3d2
E. None of these choices is correct.
15. Valence bond theory predicts that bromine will use _____ hybrid orbitals in BrF5.
A. sp2
B. sp3
C. sp3d
D. sp3d2
E. None of these choices is correct.
16. Valence bond theory predicts that bromine will use _____ hybrid orbitals in BrF3.
A. sp2
B. sp3
C. sp3d
D. sp4
E. sp3d2
17. Valence bond theory predicts that xenon will use _____ hybrid orbitals in XeOF4.
A. sp
B. sp2
C. sp3
D. sp3d
E. sp3d2

18. Which one of the following statements about orbital hybridization is incorrect?
A. The carbon atom in CH4 is sp3 hybridized.
B. The carbon atom in CO2 is sp hybridized.
C. The nitrogen atom in NH3 is sp2 hybridized.
D. sp2 hybrid orbitals are coplanar, and at 120 to each other.
E. sp hybrid orbitals lie at 180 to each other.
19. For which one of the following molecules is the indicated type of hybridization not
appropriate for the central atom?
A. BeCl2 sp2
B. SiH4 sp3
C. BF3 sp2
D. C2H2 sp
E. H2O sp3
20. According to valence bond theory, which of the following molecules involves sp2
hybridization of orbitals on the central atom?
A. C2H2 C is the central atom
B. C2H4, C is the central atom
C. C2H6, C is the central atom
D. CO2, C is the central atom
E. H2O, O is the central atom
21. Determine the shape (geometry) of PCl3 and then decide on the appropriate hybridization of
phosphorus in this molecule. (Phosphorus is the central atom.)
A. sp3
B. sp2
C. sp
D. sp3d
E. sp3d2
22. According to valence bond theory, the triple bond in ethyne (acetylene, C2H2) consists of
A. three bonds and no bonds.
B. two bonds and one bond.
C. one bond and two bonds.
D. no bonds and three bonds.
E. None of these choices is correct.
23. How many sigma and pi bonds, respectively, are in the molecule below?
CH3CH2CHCHCH3?
A. 16, 1
B. 16, 0
C. 15, 1
D. 15, 0
E. 14, 1

24. Select the correct statement about -bonds in valence bond theory.
A. A bond is stronger than a sigma bond.
B. A bond can hold 4 electrons, two above and two below the -bond axis.
C. A carbon-carbon double bond consists of two bonds.
D. A bond is the same strength as a bond.
E. A bond between two carbon atoms restricts rotation about the C C axis.
25. According to molecular orbital (MO) theory, the 12 outermost electrons in the O2 molecule
are distributed as follows:
A. 12 in bonding MOs, 0 in antibonding MOs.
B. 10 in bonding MOs, 2 in antibonding MOs.
C. 9 in bonding MOs, 3 in antibonding MOs.
D. 8 in bonding MOs, 4 in antibonding MOs.
E. 7 in bonding MOs, 5 in antibonding MOs.
26. According to molecular orbital theory, what is the bond order in the O2+ ion?
A. 5.5
B. 5
C. 4
D. 2.5
E. 1.5
27. According to the molecular orbital (MO) treatment of the NO molecule, what are the bond
order and the number of unpaired electrons, respectively?
A. 2, 2
B. 3, 3
C. 1, 1
D. 1.5, 2
E. 2.5, 1
28. Which of the following statements relating to molecular orbital (MO) theory is incorrect?
A. Combination of two atomic orbitals produces one bonding and one antibonding MO.
B. A bonding MO is lower in energy than the two atomic orbitals from which it is
formed.
C. Combination of two 2p orbitals may result in either or MOs.
D. A species with a bond order of zero will not be stable.
E. In a stable molecule having an even number of electrons, all electrons must be paired.
29. One can safely assume that the 3s- and 3p-orbitals will form molecular orbitals similar to
those formed when 2s- and 2p-orbitals interact. According to molecular orbital theory, what
will be the bond order for the Cl2+ ion?
A. 0.5
B. 1
C. 1.5
D. 2
E. None of these choices is correct.

30. The nitrosonium ion, NO+, forms a number of interesting complexes with nickel, cobalt,
and iron. According to molecular orbital theory, which of the following statements about
NO+ is correct?
A. NO+ has a bond order of 2 and is paramagnetic.
B. NO+ has a bond order of 2 and is diamagnetic.
C. NO+ has a bond order of 3 and is paramagnetic.
D. NO+ has a bond order of 3 and is diamagnetic.
E. None of these choices is correct.
31. Which one, if any, of the following statements about the MO treatment of the bonding in
benzene is correct?
A. MO theory uses resonance to describe the delocalized nature of the bonding in
benzene.
B. The lowest energy pi-bonding orbital in benzene can hold up to 6 electrons.
C. MO theory predicts that benzene should be paramagnetic.
D. The lowest energy pi-bonding MO in benzene has two hexagonal lobes, above and
below the plane of the carbon atoms.
E. None of these choices is correct.
32. In one sentence state the basic principle of valence bond theory.

33. In not more than two sentences, explain when and why chemists make use of the concept of
hybridization.

34. What type of hybridization is needed to explain why ethyne, C2H2, is linear?

35. Describe the bonding in ethylene (ethene, C2H4) according to valence bond theory. Be sure
to indicate the orbital hybridization on the carbon atoms. Draw a diagram clearly showing
at least one bond of each type which occurs in the molecule.

36. a. In the context of valence bond theory, explain the difference in geometry between a and
a bond. Use a real molecule to illustrate your answer.
b. What two important differences are there in the properties of and bonds, in terms of
how they affect the structure and reactivity of molecules?

37. In one sentence, state how molecular orbitals are usually obtained.

38. Sketch the shapes of the 1s and 1s* molecular orbitals formed by the overlap of two
hydrogen 1s atomic orbitals.

39. Explain what is meant by a node (or nodal plane) in a molecular orbital and draw sketches
of the following orbitals, indicating at least one nodal plane in each one.
a. a * orbital
b. a * orbital

40. In the context of molecular orbital (MO) theory, explain how atomic p orbitals can give rise
to:
a. a MO
b. a MO

41. Explain what is meant by the term "bond order" and describe how it can be calculated using
the information in a molecular orbital energy level diagram.

42. a. What simple experiment could you perform to show that a substance is paramagnetic?
b. What microscopic (atomic/molecular) feature must a substance possess in order to be
paramagnetic?
c. Can it be predicted whether or not all homonuclear diatomic ions, X2+, will be
paramagnetic? Explain.

43. According to valence bond theory, overlap of bonding orbitals of atoms will weaken a
bond, due to electron-electron repulsion.
Difficulty: H
True False
44. Valence bond theory explains the bonding in diatomic molecules such as HCl without
resorting to the use of hybrid orbitals.
Difficulty: E
True False
45. Hybrid orbitals of the sp3d type occur in sets of four.
Difficulty: E
True False

46. The angles between sp2 hybrid orbitals are 109.5.

Difficulty: E
True False
47. Atoms of period 3 and beyond can undergo sp3d2 hybridization, but atoms of period 2
cannot.
Difficulty: M
True False
48. In the valence bond treatment, overlap of an s orbital on one atom with an sp3 orbital on
another atom can give rise to a bond.
Difficulty: M
True False
49. Overlap of two sp2 hybrid orbitals produces a bond.
Difficulty: M
True False
50. In the valence bond treatment, a bond is formed when two 2p orbitals overlap side to side.
Difficulty: M
True False
51. A carbon-carbon double bond in a molecule may give rise to the existence of cis and trans
isomers.
Difficulty: M
True False
52. A carbon-carbon triple bond in a molecule may give rise to the existence of cis and trans
isomers.
Difficulty: M
True False
53. Valence bond theory is able to explain why molecular oxygen is paramagnetic.
Difficulty: M
True False
54. In molecular orbital theory, combination of two atomic orbitals produces two molecular
orbitals.
Difficulty: E
True False
55. In applying molecular orbital theory, the bond order is calculated in the same way as with
Lewis structures.
Difficulty: M
True False

56. In molecular orbital theory, molecules with an even number of electrons will have bond
orders which are whole numbers.
Difficulty: M
True False
57. In molecular orbital theory, combination of two 2p atomic orbitals may give rise to either
or type molecular orbitals.
Difficulty: M
True False
58. According to molecular orbital theory, all diatomic molecules with an even number of
electrons will be diamagnetic.
Difficulty: M
True False

Chapter 11 Theories of Covalent Bonding Key

1.

(Sec. 11.1) E

2.

(Sec. 11.1) A

3.

(Sec. 11.1) B

4.

(Sec. 11.1) C

5.

(Sec. 11.1) B

6.

(Sec. 11.1) C

7.

(Sec. 11.1) E

8.

(Sec. 11.1) A

9.

(Sec. 11.1) B

10.

(Sec. 11.1) B

11.

(Sec. 11.1) C

12.

(Sec. 11.1) C

13.

(Sec. 11.1) C

14.

(Sec. 11.1) C

15.

(Sec. 11.1) D

16.

(Sec. 11.1) C

17.

(Sec. 11.1) E

18.

(Sec. 11.1) C

19.

(Sec. 11.1) A

20.

(Sec. 11.1) B

21.

(Sec. 11.1) A

22.

(p. 419) C

23.

(p. 419) E

24.

(p. 421) E

25.

(Sec. 11.3) D

26.

(Sec. 11.3) D

27.

(Sec. 11.3) E

28.

(Sec. 11.3) E

29.

(Sec. 11.3) C

30.

(Sec. 11.3) D

31.

(Sec. 11.3) D

32.

(p. 411) A covalent bond forms when the orbitals of two atoms overlap and a pair of electrons occupies the region between

the nuclei.
Difficulty: M
33.

(p. 412) Chemists postulate hybridization when the observed geometry of a molecule cannot be rationalized in terms of

overlap of the s, p and/or d orbitals of the atoms concerned.

Difficulty: M
34.

(Sec. 11.1) sp

Difficulty: E
35.

(Sec. 11.1) The carbon atoms are sp2 hybridized, leaving the 2pz orbital on each carbon unhybridized. Overlap of one sp2

36.

(Sec. 11.2) a. A bond has its region of highest electron density between the bonded atoms, along the axis joining them. A

hybrid on each carbon and occupation of this region by an electron pair produces a C
C bond. Overlap of the
remaining four hybrid orbitals with 1s orbitals of four hydrogen atoms, produces four C
H bonds. The unhybridized
2pz orbitals overlap laterally to produce a bond which has two regions of electron density, above and below the C
C
bond. (Diagram needed.)
Difficulty: H
bond has two regions of overlap, between the atoms but above and below the axis joining them.
b. A bond is stronger than a bond. There is free rotation about a bond but not about a bond, giving rise to the
possibility of geometrical isomers in the latter case.
Difficulty: H

37.

(Sec. 11.3) By the linear combination (addition or subtraction) of atomic orbitals.

Difficulty: M

38.

(Sec. 11.3)

Difficulty: M
39.

(Sec. 11.3) A nodal plane is a plane of zero electron density. Nodal planes are the dashed lines shown below.

Difficulty: M
40.

(Sec. 11.3) a. A MO arises when atomic p orbitals which are directed towards each other, are combined.

b. A MO arises from the combination of atomic p orbitals which lie parallel to each other, perpendicular to the
internuclear axis.
Difficulty: M
41.

(Sec. 11.3) The bond order in MO theory is the net number of bonds, where a pair of electrons in a bonding MO constitutes

a bond and a pair in an antibonding MO constitutes an antibond. It is equal to the total number of electrons in bonding
MOs minus the total number in antibonding MOs, divided by two.
Difficulty: M

42.

(Sec. 11.3) a. Place a sample of the substance near a magnet; if it is attracted to the magnet, it is paramagnetic.

b. The substance must have unpaired electrons in order to be paramagnetic.

c. Yes, they will necessarily be paramagnetic since each will have an odd number of electrons.
Difficulty: M
43.

(p. 411) FALSE

44.

(p. 418) TRUE

45.

(Sec. 11.1) FALSE

46.

(Sec. 11.1) FALSE

47.

(Sec. 11.1) TRUE

48.

(Sec. 11.1) TRUE

49.

(Sec. 11.2) FALSE

50.

(Sec. 11.2) TRUE

51.

(p. 421) TRUE

52.

(p. 422) FALSE

53.

(Sec. 11.3) FALSE

54.

(Sec. 11.3) TRUE

55.

(Sec. 11.3) FALSE

56.

(Sec. 11.3) TRUE

57.

(Sec. 11.3) TRUE

58.

(Sec. 11.3) FALSE