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HESI A2 Chemistry: bonding practice questions

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These are original practice items written to the HESI A2 blueprint (4 options, no penalty for wrong answers), not actual exam questions. Try each one before you open the answer.

What this topic covers

Chemistry: bonding sits inside the Chemistry section of the HESI A2. Our bank holds 44 verified items tagged to it, and the 4 below are a fixed sample so the page stays the same every time you open it. Each one shows the reasoning, not just the letter.

The topic tag comes from our own items rather than from a published syllabus, so treat it as a map of what we cover. For the official section breakdown see the HESI A2 page.

Chemistry: bonding sample questions

Question 1

A water molecule has a bent shape and is polar. Which type of bond is responsible for the attraction between two separate water molecules?

  1. A Covalent bond
  2. B Ionic bond
  3. C Van der Waals force
  4. D Hydrogen bond
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Hydrogen bonds form between the partially positive hydrogen of one water molecule and the partially negative oxygen of another water molecule. These intermolecular forces give water its high surface tension and boiling point.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Covalent bonds are intramolecular bonds within a water molecule (O–H bonds), not between separate molecules.
B: Ionic bonds involve complete transfer of electrons between atoms, forming ions; water molecules are neutral and interact via dipole-dipole forces.
C: Van der Waals forces are weaker intermolecular forces present in all molecules, but the primary attraction between water molecules is hydrogen bonding, which is a specific, stronger dipole-dipole interaction.

Question 2

What type of chemical bond is formed between sodium and chlorine in sodium chloride (NaCl)?

  1. A Metallic
  2. B Hydrogen
  3. C Ionic
  4. D Covalent
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Sodium donates an electron to chlorine, forming Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions is an ionic bond.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Metallic bonds occur between metal atoms, not between a metal and a nonmetal.
B: Hydrogen bonds are intermolecular forces, not chemical bonds within a compound.
D: Covalent bonds involve sharing electrons, not transfer.

Question 3

Which type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms in a way that results in a molecule with a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other?

  1. A Nonpolar covalent bond
  2. B Ionic bond
  3. C Polar covalent bond
  4. D Hydrogen bond
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

A polar covalent bond involves unequal sharing of electrons, creating partial charges (dipole). Nonpolar covalent bonds share electrons equally. Ionic bonds involve electron transfer. Hydrogen bonds are intermolecular attractions, not bonds within a molecule.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Nonpolar covalent bonds share electrons equally, so no partial charges develop.
B: Ionic bonds involve complete transfer of electrons, not sharing.
D: Hydrogen bonds are intermolecular forces, not chemical bonds within a molecule.

Question 4

A bond between two atoms has an electronegativity difference of 1.2. Which type of bond is most likely present?

  1. A Ionic
  2. B Metallic
  3. C Nonpolar covalent
  4. D Polar covalent
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Electronegativity differences between 0.5 and 1.7 typically indicate polar covalent bonds. A difference of 1.2 falls in this range.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Ionic bonds usually have differences greater than 1.7.
B: Metallic bonds occur between metal atoms and are not characterized by electronegativity difference in the same way.
C: Nonpolar covalent bonds have electronegativity differences less than 0.5.

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