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Valence
Let's look at the kinds of bonding options that are available to atoms based on their valence.
Bonding Combinations by Valence
| There are three ways that one atom of carbon can bond to another atom of carbon--by
a single bond, a double bond, or a triple bond. Each of these different types of bonds has
different chemical properties which we have not gone into yet, and each one has a
different degree of reactivity. Also, they impose different kinds of structure to the
molecules in which they are contained. |
| Carbon-to-carbon |
| single |
sigma |
| double |
sigma and pi |
| triple |
sigma and two pis |
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| In all the examples that we have gone through so far, carbon was also
bonded to hydrogen. Carbon will bond with a single bond to hydrogen. A
single bond has to be a sigma bond. The reason that carbon can only bond to hydrogen with
a single bond is because the hydrogen has only one electron in its outer shell and
therefore can donate only one electron to form a covalent bond. It does not have an
electron left over in a p orbital to make a pi bond. Consequently, any bond between carbon
and hydrogen will have to be a single bond. |
| Carbon-to-hydrogen |
| single |
sigma |
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| Chlorine and the other halogens can form only one bond
because it has a valence of one. Consequently, carbon and chlorine will not form double
bonds or triple bonds. |
| Carbon-to-halogen |
| single |
sigma |
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In future lessons we will also look at how carbon can bond to oxygen and nitrogen.
In this lesson we will consider just the kinds of compounds that can result from the
hybridization you have just learned about combining carbon, hydrogen and the halogens.
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E-mail instructor:
Eden Francis
Clackamas Community College
©2001, 2003 Clackamas Community College, Hal Bender
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