Early Bonding Theories

A vexing puzzle m the early days of valence bond theory concerned the fact that methane is CH4 and that the four bonds to carbon are directed toward the corners of a tetrahedron Valence bond theory is based on the overlap of half filled orbitals of the connected atoms but with an electron configuration of s 2s 2p 2py carbon has only two half filled orbitals (Figure 2 8a) How can it have bonds to four hydrogens ... 

Structure. The straiued configuration of ethylene oxide has been a subject for bonding and molecular orbital studies. Valence bond and early molecular orbital studies have been reviewed (28). Intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) and localized molecular orbital (LMO) calculations have also been performed (29—31). The LMO bond density maps show that the bond density is strongly polarized toward the oxygen atom (30). Maximum bond density hes outside of the CCO triangle, as suggested by the bent bonds of valence—bond theory (32). The H-nmr spectmm of ethylene oxide is consistent with these calculations (33). 

W. M. Latimer and W. H. Rodebush, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 42 (1920), 1419. This paper is often cited as the discovery of H-bonding (but see Jeffrey, note 5). Its title, Polarity and ionization from the standpoint of the Lewis theory of valence, reflects the strong influence of G. N. Lewis on all aspects of the early development of H-bond theory. 

The early molecular theories of rubber elasticity were based on models of networks of long chains in molecules, each acting as an entropic spring. That is, because the configurational entropy of a chain increased as the distance between the atoms decreased, an external force was necessary to prevent its collapse. It was understood that collapse of the network to zero volume in the absence of an externally applied stress was prevented by repulsive excluded volume (EV) interactions. The term nonbonded interactions was applied to those between atom pairs that were not neighboring atoms along a chain and interacting via a covalent bond. 

The crystal structures adopted by the binary carbides and nitrides are similar to those found in noble metals. The resemblance is not coincidental, and has been explained using Engel-Brewer valence bond theory [5]. Briefly, the main group elements C and N increase the metal s effective s-p electron count, so that structures and chemical properties of the early transition metals resemble those of the Group 8 metals. This idea was first introduced by Levy and Boudart [6] who noted that tungsten carbide had platinum-like properties. 

Kettle, S. F. A. (1969). Coordination Compounds. New York Appleton, Century, Crofts. The early chapters give a good survey of the field, and the later chapters deal with details of bonding theory in coordination compounds. 

The benzene derivatives presented an enigma to structural chemists in that although the benzene rings had three double bonds, they underwent substitution rather than addition when treated with reagents such as bromine and nitric acid. No adequate explanation for their behavior was presented prior to the development of quantum mechanics. In the early 1930 s, two explanations were presented. One was by Pauling making use of valence bond theory,2 and the other was by E. Huckel making use of molecular orbital theory.3... 

Knowledge of the physical forces that influence the total energy of a system thus reveals the theoretical underpinnings of nearly aU of experimental chemistry. In fact, much of the early activity in chemical bonding theory was the result of attempts to understand the results of molecular spectroscopy experiments. The developers of what came to be called molecular orbital theory, Robert Mulhken (US) and Friedrich Hund (Germany), established a professional and personal relationship based on their conunon interest in the spectra of diatomic molecules especially in the influence of isotope effects. When compared to other theories of the time, a major advantage of their theoretical approach was the ability to directly apply the results to the elucidation of molecular spectra. ... 

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