Bonding in Atoms with Multiple Connectivity

SCHEME 2.11 Constructing molecules from atoms with multiple connectivities (a) Carbon dioxide (CO2) with double bonds, (b) Dinitrogen (N2) with a triple bond. 

As we just mentioned, Mankind needs a lot of ammonia (NH3) to be used for making fertilizers. Since N2 is the major gas in the earth s atmosphere, it would be wonderful to be able to make ammonia from the abundant N2 by reacting it with H2. However, this is not easy since the N=N bond is very strong. Nevertheless, Nature has foimd an efficient way here to achieve this conversion (which is also called nitrogen fixation ) at ambient temperatures in bacterial cells that use nitrogenase, which is an enzyme that facilitates the process (see Retouches section 2.R.3). 

FIGURE 2.5 Fritz Haber s caricature and Carl Bosch s photo, both shown above the ammonia-producing reaction. (Fritz Haber s caricature was drawn by W. B. Jensen and used with his permission, and Bosch s photograph is used from www.nndb.com/people/405/ 000100105) 

From red phosphorus, we make matches and also explosives. As kids, we used to mix red phosphorus with an oxygen-rich compound and some other ingredients. 

FIGURE 2.6 The 3D shape of white phosphorus (P4), shown alongside its discoverer Hennig Brand. (This painting, by Joseph Wright of Derby, was obtained from http //en. wikipedia.0rg/wiki/File Henning brand.jpg) 

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