Science

The summary of the Dance of Chemistry arc.

The dances of chemistry can really be spectacular and unique. The best part is, the periodic table gives you a hint into the kinds of bonds that might happen.

We define a bond as something that ties things together. It's easy to tell who our bonds lie with, but, atoms have bonds as well. These are the dances of chemistry.

Molecular orbital diagrams are complex, involving two additional orbitals, electronegativity, atomic symmetries and atomic energies. Although more complex, these diagrams reveal a more realistic case for bonding, allowing electrons to travel about a molecule, rather than in between one.

Valence bond theory, the theory that explains bonding through the use of lone pairs and electrons between nuclei, is convenient for explaining basic bonding. However, when we consider the wave-like behavior of electrons, it falls short in explaining the reality behind covalent bonding. This lesson moves us forward with a new theory - molecular orbital theory.

Hybridization, beyond giving us a reason for covalent bonding, also helps us understand that there are two different types of covalent bonds - the sigma and the pi bond.