How do you know from a chemical formula if it's molecular or covalent? For example, SO2 is a molecular solid but diamond is a covalent solid, so what's the difference?
Formal Charges
Formal charges have an important role in organic chemistry since this concept helps us to know whether an atom in a molecule is neutral/bears a positive or negative charge. Even if some molecules are neutral, the atoms within that molecule need not be neutral atoms.
Polarity Of Water
In simple chemical terms, polarity refers to the separation of charges in a chemical species leading into formation of two polar ends which are positively charged end and negatively charged end. Polarity in any molecule occurs due to the differences in the electronegativities of the bonded atoms. Water, as we all know has two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom. As oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen thus, there exists polarity in the bonds which is why water is known as a polar solvent.
Valence Bond Theory Vbt
Valence bond theory (VBT) in simple terms explains how individual atomic orbitals with an unpaired electron each, come close to each other and overlap to form a molecular orbital giving a covalent bond. It gives a quantum mechanical approach to the formation of covalent bonds with the help of wavefunctions using attractive and repulsive energies when two atoms are brought from infinity to their internuclear distance.
How do you know from a chemical formula if it's molecular or covalent? For example, SO2 is a molecular solid but diamond is a covalent solid, so what's the difference?
Introduction
A molecular solid is a type of solid state material composed of molecules held together by intermolecular forces. They can be ionic or covalent and are typically formed from small molecules or polymers. The intermolecular forces consist of van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, dipole-dipole interactions, and other weaker attractive forces. The structure of a molecular solid is typically organized in a lattice arrangement, with each molecule having a regular arrangement about a lattice point.
A covalent solid is a type of solid material composed of atoms that are held together by covalent bonds. Covalent solids are typically strong, insoluble in water, and have relatively low melting points. Examples of covalent solids include diamond, quartz, and graphite. Other examples of common covalent solids include silicon dioxide, carbon dioxide, and boron nitride. Covalent solids form when atoms share electrons in a covalent bond. This type of bonding creates a strong, rigid structure that is difficult to deform or break.
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