sidotutatomit

Sidotut atomit (bound atoms) are atoms that are chemically bonded to one another, forming molecules or extended networks. Bonds arise from the attraction between electrons and nuclei and yield a potential energy minimum that stabilizes the combination of atoms. The main categories are covalent bonds, ionic bonds, metallic bonds, and weaker interactions such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Covalent bonds involve sharing electron pairs between atoms, often between nonmetals, and can be single, double, or triple. Ionic bonds form through the transfer of electrons from electropositive to more electronegative atoms, creating oppositely charged ions that attract. Metallic bonds feature a lattice of positive cores in a sea of delocalized electrons, common in metals. Hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces are weaker secondary interactions that influence molecular geometry and solid-state properties.

Bond characteristics include bond length and bond energy, which depend on atomic size, electronegativity, and bond order. Bond order, indicating single, double, or triple bonds, correlates with bond strength and length. The formation of bonds determines many physical properties, such as melting and boiling points, hardness, solubility, and reactivity, as well as the structure of crystals like sodium chloride or diamond.

In scientific practice, sidotut atomit are analyzed using quantum chemistry approaches, including molecular orbital theory and valence bond theory, and are studied through spectroscopy and other techniques. The concept of chemical bonds has been central in chemistry and materials science, with foundational contributions from researchers such as Gilbert N. Lewis and Linus Pauling.