Question

Why Chlorine is a covalent molecule?​

Answer 1

Explanation:

The Chlorine molecule has two chlorine atoms attached by a covalent bond because the outer p orbitals of each chlorine atom are filled by the two shared electrons. Hence chlorine is a covalent molecule.

Answer 2

Answer:

Chlorine is a covalent molecule because sharing of electrons allows each atom to attain a stable electronic configuration.

Explanation:

The molecular formula of chlorine is $Cl_{2}$.  The outermost electronic configuration of $Cl$ is $3s^{2} 3p^{5}$ . So $Cl$ needs one more electron to complete the octet. In order to attain a stable electronic configuration, each chlorine atom shares one electron and forms a covalent bond. Also, a covalent bond is favoured when the electronegativity difference between the two atoms is too small for an electron transfer to occur to form ions. Therefore $Cl_{2}$ forms a covalent bond.