Faculty of Science

Objectives

To unify and rationalise the nature and types of bonding in organic and inorganic molecules; the relationships between bonding interactions of substances and their physical and chemical properties.

Contents

Introduction to bonding types, wave mechanics of electrons in atoms; (Bohr model, dual nature of electrons, waves and the uncertainty principle); the Schrodinger wave equation, significance of Schrodinger’s wave equation; introduction to covalent bonding (Lewis theory and the octet rule, overlap of orbitals); the Heitler-London wave function for the electron pair bond; hybridization, resonance theory and canonical forms, σ and π-bonds; separation of electron and nuclear motion: the Born-Oppenheimer approximations, energy levels of molecular orbitals; the molecular orbital theory, linear combination of atomic orbitals LCAO; energy level diagrams for homonuclear diatomic molecules, energy level diagrams for heteronuclear molecules; molecular shapes: Sidwick-Powell and the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theories; intermolecular forces, ionic bonding: experimental and theoretical values; the Born-Haber Cycle, typical examples from purely ionic bonds and covalent bonds; the metallic bond, use of Lithium and magnesium s-bands, p-bands; metalloids/alloys; conductors, semi-conductors and insulators.