In covalent bonding, which type of chemical bond most likely stores the greatest bond energy between two atoms?

Introduction / Context:
Bond energy is a measure of the strength of a chemical bond and represents the energy required to break the bond between two atoms in the gas phase. In covalent bonds, atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. Single, double, and triple bonds differ in the number of shared electron pairs and thus in bond length and bond energy. This question asks which type of bond most likely stores the greatest bond energy between two atoms.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- We are comparing single and double covalent bonds between the same pair of atoms under similar conditions. - Bond energy is defined as the energy needed to break one mole of bonds in the gas phase. - A double bond involves two shared electron pairs, while a single bond involves one shared electron pair. - We assume standard textbook trends for bond energies and bond lengths.

Concept / Approach:
In general, as the number of shared electron pairs between two atoms increases, the bond becomes shorter and stronger. A double bond, with two shared pairs, has a higher bond energy and shorter bond length than a single bond between the same atoms. This means more energy is required to break a double bond compared to a single bond. Although triple bonds usually have even higher bond energies, they are not listed as options in this question. Therefore, among the choices given, the double bond stores the greatest bond energy.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that a single bond involves one shared pair of electrons, while a double bond involves two shared pairs between the same two atoms. Step 2: Understand that additional shared electron pairs increase the attraction between the two nuclei and the bonding electrons. Step 3: This stronger attraction leads to a shorter bond length and higher bond energy for double bonds compared to single bonds. Step 4: Bond energy tables often show that, for example, a C C single bond has a lower bond energy than a C C double bond. Step 5: Since the question is asking which bond most likely stores the greatest energy, we select the type with the higher bond dissociation energy. Step 6: Conclude that a double covalent bond stores more bond energy than a single covalent bond and is therefore the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this reasoning by consulting standard bond energy data. For instance, approximate bond energies for C C bonds are about 350 kJ per mol for a single bond and about 610 kJ per mol for a double bond, clearly showing that the double bond is stronger and requires more energy to break. Similar trends are observed for many other elements such as nitrogen and oxygen. This consistent pattern across different types of atoms confirms that double bonds typically have greater bond energy than single bonds.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (A single covalent bond) is incorrect because single bonds are generally weaker and have lower bond energy than double bonds between the same atoms. Option C claims that single and double bonds store exactly the same energy, which contradicts experimental bond energy values. Option D states that none of the bonds store any significant energy, which is false because bond energies are central to thermochemistry and reaction energetics.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think in terms of total energy released in reactions rather than bond strength and may confuse bond energy with the stability of a molecule as a whole. Another pitfall is to misinterpret the phrase energy stored in bonds and assume that breaking stronger bonds releases more energy, when in fact more energy must be supplied to break them. To avoid confusion, remember that higher bond energy means a stronger bond that requires more energy input to break, not less.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is: A double covalent bond.