Explain in your own words why hydrogen atoms can form a covalent bond but helium atoms cannot.
Question: Explain in your own words why hydrogen atoms can form a covalent bond but helium atoms cannot.
A covalent bond is a type of chemical bond that involves the sharing of electrons between two atoms. The atoms share electrons to achieve a stable configuration, usually similar to the noble gases. Hydrogen atoms can form a covalent bond because they have one electron in their outermost shell, and they need two electrons to have the same configuration as helium, the nearest noble gas. By sharing one electron with another hydrogen atom, they can both complete their outer shells and form a molecule of hydrogen (H2) ¹. Helium atoms cannot form a covalent bond because they already have two electrons in their outermost shell, which is the maximum number for that shell. They have the same configuration as helium, the noble gas they belong to. Therefore, they have no tendency to share electrons with other atoms, and they exist as single atoms .
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