If the intermolecular distance between two hydrogen atoms in `H_2` molecule is 74pm then the covalent radius of hydrogen is

Options

A. 37pm
B. `0.47A^@`
C. 74pm
D. `74A^@`

Answer

To find the covalent radius of hydrogen given the intermolecular distance between two hydrogen atoms in an H₂ molecule, follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Concept of Covalent Radius**:
The covalent radius is defined as half the distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms. In the case of a diatomic molecule like H₂, the distance between the two hydrogen nuclei is the intermolecular distance.

2. **Identify the Given Information**:
The problem states that the intermolecular distance between two hydrogen atoms in an H₂ molecule is 74 picometers (pm).

3. **Calculate the Covalent Radius**:
To find the covalent radius, you take half of the intermolecular distance:
\[ \text{Covalent Radius} = \frac{\text{Intermolecular Distance}}{2} = \frac{74 \text{ pm}}{2} \]

4. **Perform the Calculation**:
\[ \text{Covalent Radius} = \frac{74}{2} = 37 \text{ pm} \]

5. **Conclusion**:
The covalent radius of hydrogen is 37 picometers.

### Final Answer:
The covalent radius of hydrogen is **37 pm**.

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