Why this chapter?
The study of covalent bonds is akin to the study of life. These precious linkages hold various atoms to form molecules, allow them to form shapes, and tease them to undergo reactions. Simply put, covalent bonds are responsible for molecules bending, breaking, connecting, and changing shape. These bonds are primitive, transformative, omnipresent, and compulsory for life on Earth.
In this chapter, we start from the oldest to the newest theories on covalent bonding. Since organic chemistry is electron-driven, we will also see how its dual particle-wave nature impacts our understanding of covalent bonds.
We will learn how covalent bonds form shapes and unique geometries in molecules, bond characteristics of length, angle, strength, bond properties, stability, breakage, and reactivity. Basically, we will get a complete introduction to covalent bonds’ pivotal role in shaping our world at the atomic level.
- Theories on Covalent Bond Formation
- Valence Bond Theory- Introduction and Covalent Bond Formation
- Valence Bond Theory- Types of Orbital Overlap Forming Covalent Bonds
- Applications, Limitations, and Extensions of Valence Bond Theory
- Hybridization- Introduction and Types
- sp3 Hybridization of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen
- sp2 Hybridization of Carbon, Carbocation, Nitrogen, and Oxygen
- sp Hybridization of Carbon and Nitrogen
- Shortcut to Determine Hybridization
- The shape of sp hybrid orbital - Why is the lobe unequal?
- VSEPR Theory- Introduction
- Difference between Electron Pair Geometry and Molecular Structure
- Finding Electron Pair Geometry and Related Shape
- Predicting Electron-Pair Geometry and Molecular Structure Guideline
- Predicting Electron pair geometry and Molecular structure - Examples
- Finding Electron-Pair Geometry and Shape in Multicentre Molecules
- Drawbacks of VSEPR Theory
- Electron Wave Property, LCAO and MOT - Introduction
- Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals - Formation of Sigma and Pie bonds using MO Approach
- The Energetics of Bonding and Antibonding Molecular orbitals
- Conditions for the Valid Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals
- Features of LCAO Theory
- Finding the Electronic Configuration of Molecules using MO and Predicting Comparative Stability using Bond Order
- Setting up the MO diagram for homonuclear diatomic molecules – Second Period Elements
- Setting up the Molecular Orbital Diagram for Heteronuclear Diatomic Molecules
- The Non-bonding Molecular Orbitals
- Weakness of the Molecular Orbital Theory
- Covalent bond Characteristics - Bond Length
- Factors affecting Bond Length
- How does Electron delocalization (Resonance) affect the Bond length?
- Covalent bond Characteristics- Bond Angle
- Factors affecting Bond Angle
- Covalent bond Characteristics - Bond Order
- How Bond Order Corresponds to the Bond Strength and Bond Length
- Solved Examples of Bond Order Calculations
- Covalent Bond Rotation
- Covalent Bond Breakage
- Covalent Bond Properties -Physical State, Melting and Boiling Points, Electrical Conductivity, Solubility, Isomerism, Non-ionic Reactions Rate, Crystal structure