- #1
sci-guy
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I have some questions about molecular bonding. I understand that intramolecular bonds (forces holding a molecule together) are stronger than intermolecular bonds (forces between molecules). I also understand that the strength of intermolecular bonds determines whether something is gas (no bond), liquid (weak), or solid (relatively strong). All these various types of bonds between the many chemical elements account for the myriad diversity of matter in creation. Last, I understand that some types of molecular bond have a special order to them, called crystal structure or lattice.
From what I can gather, all molecular bonding stems from electron sharing, exchange, etc. Here are my questions:
1) Is it correct to say that all molecular order (i.e. bonding arrangement) results from the most efficient energy state (i.e. electron configuration) of the material?
2) What about metallic bonding, involving the sharing of free electrons circulating through the material -- is that also the most efficient energy state?
3) Since all molecules of the same type have the same structure, when like molecules join, it seems like there must always be an ordered, repeating pattern (though often complex). Is the only distinction in crystals that the repeating order is identical in all three dimensions (as suggested here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_structure)?
From what I can gather, all molecular bonding stems from electron sharing, exchange, etc. Here are my questions:
1) Is it correct to say that all molecular order (i.e. bonding arrangement) results from the most efficient energy state (i.e. electron configuration) of the material?
2) What about metallic bonding, involving the sharing of free electrons circulating through the material -- is that also the most efficient energy state?
3) Since all molecules of the same type have the same structure, when like molecules join, it seems like there must always be an ordered, repeating pattern (though often complex). Is the only distinction in crystals that the repeating order is identical in all three dimensions (as suggested here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_structure)?