91Ó°ÊÓ

Chlorine (Cl), neon (Ne), and helium (He) all exist as gases, but only one of them is diatomic. Which is it, and why is it diatomic while the others are monatomic?

Why isn't the formula for water HO?

Hydrogen (H) and sulfur (S) form the toxic compound hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs and is spewed from volcanoes. Predict the formula of hydrogen sulfide starting with dot diagrams for the atoms.

Phosphorus (P) and bromine (Br) form a compound. Predict the formula of this compound starting with dot diagrams for the atoms.

Ethers are compounds of \(\mathrm{C}, \mathrm{H}\), and \(\mathrm{O}\) that are often used as solvents. One particular ether molecule has the formula \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6} \mathrm{O} .\) The structure is such that both carbons are attached to the oxygen atom, and there are no \(\mathrm{O}-\mathrm{H}\) bonds. Starting with dot diagrams for the atoms, draw a dot diagram for this ether molecule. How many bonding pairs does the molecule have? How many lone pairs?

The valence electrons in a helium atom are paired, but suppose they were not. Postulate what might form if oxygen atoms reacted with helium atoms that had their valence electrons unpaired.

Oxygen, in almost all of its compounds, forms two bonds. Explain why this is so.

How many bonds will an atom from group VA generally form? Explain why this is so.

Draw a dot diagram for ethylene, \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}\).

Is the bond between the carbon atoms in the ethylene molecule of Problem \(5.84\) stronger or weaker than the bond in acetylene, \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{2}\) (WorkPatch 5.7)? Explain fully.