Chapter 11: Chemical Bonding I: Basic Concepts Introduction

Molecules come in a seemingly infinite number of sizes and shapes. Compounds with the same chemical formula can have very different properties because of the structure of their molecules and the bonding present in each. This chapter discusses the fundamental ideas about how atoms bond to each other to create molecules of different types and shapes. Many people have only a general notion that atoms bond together by sharing electrons. In order to understand the reactivity of a molecule, we often need to know in some detail about the type of bonding occurring in different parts of the molecule. We also need to understand the shape of the molecule and what effect that has on its properties. For example, at room temperature CO₂ is a gas, whereas SiO₂ is a solid (quartz). What is it about the bonding and structure of these compounds that gives rise to such a dramatic difference?

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