Skip to content
CHEM 121 Studioby Learn4Less · UBC CHEM 121

CHEM 121 glossary

Nonpolar covalent bond

A covalent bond in which the electrons are shared equally or nearly so, because the two atoms have similar electronegativities. This course uses ΔEN<0.4\Delta\text{EN} < 0.4.

From nonpolar covalent to ionicBond type depends on the electronegativity difference ΔEN. Cl–Cl (ΔEN 0) shares electrons equally: nonpolar covalent. H–Cl (ΔEN ≈ 1.0) shares unequally: polar covalent. Na⁺Cl⁻ (ΔEN ≈ 2.1) transfers an electron: ionic. Course cut-offs: below 0.4 nonpolar, 1.8 and above ionic.ClClshared equallyHClδ+δ−shared unequallyNa⁺Cl⁻e⁻ transferred00.41.83nonpolarpolar covalentionicΔEN (electronegativity difference)

Nonpolar covalent bonds sit at the ΔEN≈0\Delta\text{EN} \approx 0 end of the scale.

Example

Cl–Cl (ΔEN=0\Delta\text{EN} = 0) and C–H (ΔEN=2.55−2.20=0.35\Delta\text{EN} = 2.55 - 2.20 = 0.35) are both nonpolar covalent.

See alsoCovalent bondPolar covalent bondElectronegativity difference (ΔEN)