* Diatomic chlorine (Cl₂): Each chlorine atom has 7 valence electrons. To achieve a stable octet, they share one pair of electrons (a single bond), forming Cl-Cl.
* Diatomic oxygen (O₂): Each oxygen atom also has 6 valence electrons. To achieve a stable octet, they share two pairs of electrons (a double bond), forming O=O.
Here's a summary:
| Molecule | Shared Electron Pairs | Bond Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cl₂ | 1 | Single bond |
| O₂ | 2 | Double bond |
This difference in the number of shared electrons leads to:
* Bond strength: Double bonds are stronger than single bonds, meaning more energy is required to break them.
* Bond length: Double bonds are shorter than single bonds.
* Reactivity: Oxygen is generally more reactive than chlorine due to the stronger double bond and higher electronegativity.
Therefore, the main difference in the covalent bonds of diatomic chlorine and oxygen is the number of electron pairs shared, resulting in different bond strengths, lengths, and reactivity.
