Table of Contents
What are Molecular Structure and Bonding?
Molecular structure is the way in which the atoms in a molecule are arranged. Bonding is the way in which the atoms are connected to each other. There are three types of bonding: covalent bonding, ionic bonding, and hydrogen bonding. Covalent bonding is the sharing of electrons between two atoms. Ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. Hydrogen bonding is the sharing of a hydrogen atom between two atoms.
Molecular Structure
A molecule is the smallest particle of a chemical compound that has the chemical properties of that compound. The molecular structure of a molecule is determined by the types and arrangement of its atoms.
The simplest type of molecule is the atom. Atoms are composed of three types of particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and the type of atom it is. For example, an atom with six protons is a carbon atom.
The number of neutrons in an atom can vary, but the number of protons always equals the number of neutrons. The number of electrons in an atom equals the number of protons minus the number of neutrons.
Molecules are composed of two or more atoms. The atoms in a molecule are held together by chemical bonds. There are two types of chemical bonds: covalent bonds and ionic bonds.
Covalent bonds are formed when two atoms share electrons. Ionic bonds are formed when one atom donates electrons to another atom.
The type of chemical bond and the arrangement of the atoms in a molecule determine its molecular structure. There are four basic types of molecular structures: linear, branched, cyclic, and three-dimensional.
Linear molecules have atoms arranged in a straight line. Branched molecules have atoms arranged in a tree-like structure. Cyclic molecules have atoms arranged in a circle. Three-dimensional molecules have atoms arranged in a three-dimensional structure.
The molecular structure of a molecule can also be represented by its molecular formula. The molecular formula is a shorthand way of representing the types and arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
What are Isomers?
Isomers are molecules that have the same chemical formula but different structural formulas.
Distinguishing Between Carbon Atoms
- There are three types of carbon atoms: isotopes of carbon. The most common isotope of carbon is carbon-12, which has six protons and six neutrons in its nucleus. Carbon-13 has six protons and seven neutrons, and carbon-14 has six protons and eight neutrons.
- The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus determines that atom’s chemical properties. Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are both stable atoms, but carbon-14 is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay. This means that it eventually converts to nitrogen-14, which is also a stable atom.
- The different numbers of neutrons in the carbon isotopes affect their physical properties. Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are both non-metallic, whereas carbon-14 is a metallic atom. Carbon-14 is also a radioactive atom, meaning that it emits radiation.
