Questions tagged [bond]

For questions about chemical bonds (ionic/covalent/etc.), their properties (length, energy, angle, etc.) or their relation to other molecular properties (intermolecular forces/dipole moment/etc.). Do not confuse this tag with [lewis-structures], [dipole], [intermolecular-forces], etc.

A chemical bond is an interaction between atoms, which results in the release of energy when created. The same can be told about intermolecular interactions, but they are usually weaker and, perhaps more importantly, their covalent component is low to none. Ionic component is complementing to covalent, and can be attributed even to symmetric diatomic molecules, but without at least minuscule covalent character, the bond would be rather intermolecular interaction.

It is one of the most fundamental concepts of chemistry, along with chemical reactions, which result in bonds being broken and/or formed.

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Why does Nitrogen form N₂ (and not N₄) while but Phosphorus forms P₄ (and not P₂)?

$\ce{N2}$ is a gas $\ce{P4}$ is a solid $\ce{N}$ and $\ce{P}$ are in the same group in the periodic table The bond enthalpies are: $\ce{N#N}$ triple bond is $949~ \mathrm{kJ/mol}$ $\ce{P#P}$ triple bond is $490~ \mathrm{kJ/mol}$ $\ce{P-P}$ single…
user5181
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Can we really see the bonds?

I was thinking is there really bond present at microscopic level or atoms/molecules are just nearby and are connected with force which is not visible(like gravitational force between earth and sun) and we make bonds just for understanding.
Freddy
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How does H2O2 bond

I am asking this question on behalf of my seven year old daughter, so if possible please take that into consideration in the answer! I am not a chemist, but I do try to teach my daughter the basics of diverse subjects. I explained to her that the…
dotancohen
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Why is the bond order in the SO₃ molecule 1.33 and not 2?

$\ce{SO3}$ molecule has three double bonded oxygen to the central sulfur atom. Sulfur has $\ce{sp^2}$ hybridization and it has 6 outer electrons which make the bonds with the oxygen. So shouldn't the bond order be 2?
paul
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Why does coordinate covalent bond form?

Coordinate covalent bonds are bonds on which both electrons from one atom. But why does this happen? Some may think it is because one of the bonding atoms have strong electronegativity. But experimental evidence suggests otherwise. For example,…
most venerable sir
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How can oxygen have three bonds?

I was reading an article about a chemical reaction, and I came across the phrase: The oxygen atom at this point has three bonds and has a net positive charge How can this happen? Oxygen has 2 missing electrons in the valence shell. Therefore it…
Michael Mshtc
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Why is covalent bonding stronger than electrostatic attraction?

I guess if we look at this problem from a "conjugate" perspective then the conjugate of a covalent bond is two elements with electrons lying around. On the other hand, with two electrostatically attracted things, the lack of a bond leaves two…
Dissenter
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What affects bond angles?

I have three factors in mind: 1) vdW repulsions 2) Bond length 3) Electron-electron repulsions. I know that vdW repulsions between ligand atoms push the atoms apart. And bond length obviously influences bond angle; if the bonds were very long,…
Dissenter
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Are molecules with bond orders less than one stable?

Are molecules with bond orders less than one stable? My professor commented that they were "barely alive" but what does he mean, scientifically? I know that molecules with fractional bond orders greater than one can exist - i.e. nitrogen oxide has…
Dissenter
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Why is HF considered a covalently bonded compound?

Why is the bond between H and F in HF considered polar covalent whereas HCl, HI, and so on are all ionic? The electronegativity difference between them suggests that it too should be ionic, yet all textbooks say that HF is covalent. Is there a good…
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Why does rotating a double bond break the bond?

It is well known that double bonds are "stiff" and make particles less likely to rotate around the bond. But why? What makes it so that the bond has to be orientated a specific way?
Molly Stewart-Gallus
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Why does HCl ionize in water?

Why does the Hydrogen proton "prefer" to join the $\ce{H2O}$ molecule instead of remaining bonded to the chlorine atom?
Assaf Lavie
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How can Iodine bond with 5 Fluorines in Iodine Pentafluoride?

According to this lewis diagram, Iodine has 12 valence electrons? How is the possible? Only thing I can think of is that I'm mistaken in counting the covalent bonds as two valence electrons each. Do they only count as one in this scenario?
Sam D20
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When calculating a dihedral angle for a chemical bond, how is the direction defined? What are the most common convention?

I understand the geometry and calculation of a dihedral angle, discussed in this question. It is not clear how the direction is defined for a chemical bond. On the wiki page for dihedral angles, it states that, "the dihedral angle $\phi$ is the…
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Explain the 3c 2e or 3c 4e bond in these compounds

Can someone please explain how these compounds are formed/how the 3c 2e comes into existence. Polymeric structure of BeCl2 - 3c 4e BeH2 - 3c 2e CH5+ Please explain in terms of the hybridization of the central atom and how the electrons are shared…
Shodai
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