JAMB - Chemistry (2024 - No. 102)

What accounts for the low melting and boiling points of covalent molecules?
They have weak intermolecular forces.
They are three-dimensional structures.
They have definite shapes.
They possess shared electron pairs

Explanation

Covalent molecules have low melting and boiling points because of their weak intermolecular forces.The force of attraction between the molecules in a covalent compound is weak, so it takes little energy to break the bonds.

Yes, all covalent compounds have a three-dimensional structure due to the directional nature of covalent bonds, which means the atoms within a molecule are arranged in a specific spatial orientation, giving the molecule a definite shape in three dimensions; this is explained by the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory. 

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