What is the name of a covalent bond produced by the sharing of three pairs ofvelectrons?

1 Answer
anor277
Mar 21, 2017

A #"triple bond"#?

Explanation:

The modern covalent bond is conceived to be the sharing of electron density between 2 positively charged atomic nuclei, such that nucleus/nucleus repulsion is negated, and a net attractive force results. Single bonds result from the sharing of 2 electrons; double bonds from the sharing of 4 electrons; and triple bonds results.........etc.

#"Alkynes"#, #RC-=CR'#, #"dinitrogen"#, #N-=N#, and #"carbon monoxide"#, #""^(-)C-=O^+#, all provide examples of such a triple covalent bonds. Shorter internuclear separations can be achieved with multiple bonds, and the #C-C# distance in acetylene is approx. #1.20xx10^(-10)*m#, versus #1.35xx10^(-10)*m# in ethylene, versus #1.54xx10^-10*m# in ethane. (I put some numbers in because as a chemist, as a physical scientist, you should always use data to inform your argument.)

The multiple bonds are conceived to lie outside the #C-C# vector, but nevertheless allow closer approach of the participating nuclei and a stronger bond.

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