How Do Repulsive and Attractive Forces Influence Chemical Bond Formation?

[ChemRookie]

What are some repulsive and attractive forces that would infludence the formation of chemical bonds between two atoms?

 

[Mike H]

Ionic bonding is pretty much all electrostatics.

Covalent bonding is, well, let me quote this:

However, the covalent bond is a purely quantum mechanical phenomenon.

- Michael Fayer, Elements of Quantum Mechanics.

Metals...see above, there's this quote somewhere in one of my books about how metals are well described by the idea of a Fermi surface from quantum physics.

Mind you, you can make up convenient fictions to qualitatively describe chemical bonding (I used to do it all the time when TAing intro university chemistry), but it's only good for a very general, qualitative description.

 

[ravenprp]

Repulsive and attractive forces play a crucial role in the formation of chemical bonds between two atoms. These forces determine the stability and strength of the bond, as well as the overall structure of the molecule.

Some of the repulsive forces that can influence the formation of chemical bonds are the electron-electron repulsion, which occurs when two atoms with similar electronegativities come close together. This repulsion is caused by the negatively charged electrons in the outermost energy level of the atoms, which repel each other.

Another repulsive force is the steric repulsion, which is caused by the repulsion between two bulky groups in a molecule. This force can prevent the formation of certain bonds or cause distortions in the molecule's structure.

On the other hand, attractive forces are essential for the formation of chemical bonds. The most common attractive force is the electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged particles. In the case of atoms, this attraction occurs between the positively charged nucleus and the negatively charged electrons.

Another attractive force is the covalent bond, which occurs when atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. This type of bond is particularly strong and is responsible for the formation of most molecules.

Other attractive forces that can influence chemical bonding include hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces. These forces are weaker than covalent bonds but still play a crucial role in the formation and stability of certain molecules.

In conclusion, repulsive and attractive forces are essential in determining the type and strength of chemical bonds between two atoms. The balance between these forces ultimately determines the stability and properties of molecules, making them an integral part of chemical bonding.