Question

How many electrons are shared in a triple covalent bond?

Short answer

6 electrons are shared in a triple covalent bond.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Covalent Bonding

In covalent bonding, atoms share electrons to achieve a full outer shell, typically resembling a noble gas configuration. Depending on how many pairs of electrons are shared, the bond can be single, double, or triple.

Identify Triple Covalent Bond

A triple covalent bond involves three pairs of shared electrons between two atoms. This type of bond is typically found in molecules like nitrogen ( \(N_2\)), where three electron pairs are shared to achieve a stable configuration.

Calculate Shared Electrons

Since each pair of shared electrons consists of two electrons, in a triple covalent bond, there are three pairs. Thus, the total number of electrons shared is calculated as follows: \[ 3 imes 2 = 6 \]

Key concepts

Triple Covalent Bond

In chemistry, a triple covalent bond is a strong bond that occurs when two atoms share three pairs of electrons. This type of bond is stronger than both single and double bonds, reflecting more significant electron sharing. An excellent example of this is the nitrogen molecule, \(N_2\), which has a triple bond. In this molecule, six electrons are shared between the two nitrogen atoms, forming a very stable bond. This stability comes from the potential energy being lowered when the shared electrons are equally distributed among the bonded atoms, creating a strong linkage.

Electron Sharing

Electron sharing is a fundamental aspect of covalent bonding. When atoms form covalent bonds, they do so by sharing pairs of electrons. This sharing allows each atom to achieve a more stable electronic arrangement. To form a covalent bond, two or more atoms come together and share their outermost electrons.These shared electrons help fill each atom's outer electron shell, leading to a much more stable molecule. For instance, two hydrogen atoms share their single electrons to form a hydrogen molecule (\(H_2\)), resulting in a more stable configuration.

• Single bond: One pair of electrons shared
• Double bond: Two pairs of electrons shared
• Triple bond: Three pairs of electrons shared

This sharing process allows the atoms to approach noble gas configuration, contributing significantly to molecular stability and formation.

Noble Gas Configuration

Achieving a noble gas configuration is often the driving force behind covalent bonding. Atoms strive to obtain the same electron configuration as the nearest noble gas because it represents a highly stable electronic state. Noble gases such as helium, neon, and argon have full valence electron shells, which is a desirable state for other elements.By sharing electrons, atoms adjust their electron count to achieve this stable configuration. For instance, in a simple molecule like methane (\(CH_4\)), the carbon atom shares its electrons with four hydrogen atoms, attaining the electron configuration of neon, a noble gas.

Through this electron sharing, molecules can achieve lower potential energy and resist further changes, contributing to their chemical inertness and stability.