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A chemical bond is the association of atoms or ions to form molecules, crystals, and other structures. The bond may result from the electrostatic force between oppositely charged ions as in ionic bonds or through the sharing of electrons as in covalent bonds, or some combination of these effects.
Intermolecular hydrogen bonding is responsible for the high boiling point of water (100 °C) compared to the other group 16 hydrides, which have little capability to hydrogen bond. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding is partly responsible for the secondary , tertiary , and quaternary structures of proteins and nucleic acids .
The bond length, or the minimum separating distance between two atoms participating in bond formation, is determined by their repulsive and attractive forces along the internuclear direction. [3] As the two atoms get closer and closer, the positively charged nuclei repel, creating a force that attempts to push the atoms apart.
The chemical bonding within the molecule is also shown, either explicitly or implicitly. Unlike other chemical formula types, [ a ] which have a limited number of symbols and are capable of only limited descriptive power, structural formulas provide a more complete geometric representation of the molecular structure.
Covalent and ionic bonding form a continuum, with ionic character increasing with increasing difference in the electronegativity of the participating atoms. Covalent bonding corresponds to sharing of a pair of electrons between two atoms of essentially equal electronegativity (for example, C–C and C–H bonds in aliphatic hydrocarbons).
Irreversible covalent – a chemical bond is formed in which the product is thermodynamically much more stable than the reactants such that the reverse reaction does not take place. Bound molecules are sometimes called a "molecular complex"—the term generally refers to non-covalent associations. [ 2 ]
Sigma bonds are the strongest type of covalent bonds due to the direct overlap of orbitals, and the electrons in these bonds are sometimes referred to as sigma electrons. [3] The symbol σ is the Greek letter sigma. When viewed down the bond axis, a σ MO has a circular symmetry, hence resembling a similarly sounding "s" atomic orbital.
Electron-withdrawing groups exert an "inductive" or "electron-pulling" effect on covalent bonds. The strength of the electron-withdrawing group is inversely proportional to the pKa of the carboxylic acid. [2] The inductive effect is cumulative: trichloroacetic acid is 1000x stronger than chloroacetic acid.