Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What happens when atomic orbitals combine?
Molecular orbitals are formed.
What is the result of two atomic orbitals combining?
Results in an anti-bonding and a bonding molecular orbital.
What does the bonding molecular orbital encompass?
Both nuclei.
What is the basis of bonding between atoms?
The attraction of positively charged nuclei and negatively charged electrons in the bonding molecular orbital.
How many electrons can each molecular orbital hold?
Two.
How are sigma bonds formed?
Formed by end-on overlap of S and/or P orbitals, (2S, 2P or 1S & 1P)
How are pi bonds formed?
Side-on overlap of only P orbitals.
How can the shape and bonding of carbon be explained?
By hybridisation.
What is hybridisation?
It is the process of mixing atomic orbitals within an atom to generate a set of new atomic orbitals called hybrid orbitals which are degenerate.
What does degenerate mean?
Same energy.
What kind of hybridisation occurs in alkanes?
SP^3
What bonds does sp3 hybridisation create?
Sigma bonds only
What is sp3 made up of?
1 2S & 3 2P
Alkanes contain what kind of bonds?
C-C (Single bonds)
