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Unit 2 of 5

Unit 2: Chemical Bonding

Study guide for CLEP CLEP Chemistry — Unit 2: Chemical Bonding. Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.

91

Practice Questions

19

Flashcards

7

Key Topics

Key Concepts to Study

ionic vs covalent bonds
Lewis structures and VSEPR
molecular polarity
intermolecular forces
hybridization (sp sp2 sp3)
sigma vs pi bonds
resonance structures

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 5 questions from this unit. Sign up for full access to all 91.

Q1EASY

What type of bond is formed between two nonmetals?

A) Ionic
B) Covalent
C) Hydrogen
D) Electrostatic
E) Metallic
Show Answer

Answer: B — Covalent is correct because covalent bonds form between nonmetals, not ionic bonds which form between metals and nonmetals.

Q2MEDIUM

Which of the following molecules has a polar covalent bond?

A) O2
B) CO
C) H2
D) N2
E) Cl2
Show Answer

Answer: B — CO is correct because CO has a polar covalent bond due to electronegativity difference between C and O, unlike O2 which is nonpolar.

Q3MEDIUM

Which of the following diatomic molecules would exhibit the most polar covalent bond based on electronegativity differences between atoms?

A) N₂
B) HF
C) Br₂
D) Cl₂
E) CO
Show Answer

Answer: B — HF has the largest electronegativity difference (H: 2.1, F: 4.0, difference = 1.9), making it the most polar covalent bond. Cl₂ and Br₂ are nonpolar homonuclear diatomics (zero difference). N₂ is also nonpolar and has very strong bonding but no polarity. CO has a smaller electronegativity difference (~1.0) than HF. The question requires students to apply electronegativity values to predict bond polarity, a key concept in understanding molecular properties.

Q4MEDIUM

Which of the following molecules requires resonance structures to be accurately represented?

A) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
B) Water (H2O)
C) Ozone (O3)
D) Methane (CH4)
E) Ammonia (NH3)
Show Answer

Answer: C — "Ozone (O3)" is correct because ozone has multiple equivalent Lewis structures..

Q5EASY

What is the purpose of resonance structures in chemistry?

A) To show the reactivity of a molecule
B) To represent the actual structure of a molecule as a hybrid of multiple forms
C) To calculate the molecular weight of a compound
D) To determine the pH of a solution
E) To identify the type of chemical bond
Show Answer

Answer: B — To represent the actual structure of a molecule as... is correct because resonance structures represent the actual molecule as a hybrid..

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Study Tips for Unit 2: Chemical Bonding

  • Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing facts — CLEP tests application
  • Practice with timed questions to build exam-day speed
  • Review explanations for wrong answers — they reveal common misconceptions
  • Use flashcards for key terms, practice questions for deeper understanding

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