A chemical bonding model is a theoretical model used to explain atomic bonding structure, molecular geometry, properties, and reactivity of physical matter. This can refer to:
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VSEPR theory
Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory ( , ), is a model used in chemistry to predict the geometry of individual molecules from the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms. It is also named the Gillespie-Nyholm theo ...
, a model of molecular geometry.
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Valence bond theory
In chemistry, valence bond (VB) theory is one of the two basic theories, along with molecular orbital (MO) theory, that were developed to use the methods of quantum mechanics to explain chemical bonding. It focuses on how the atomic orbitals of ...
, which describes molecular electronic structure with localized bonds and lone pairs.
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Molecular orbital theory
In chemistry, molecular orbital theory (MO theory or MOT) is a method for describing the electronic structure of molecules using quantum mechanics. It was proposed early in the 20th century.
In molecular orbital theory, electrons in a molecule ...
, which describes molecular electronic structure with delocalized molecular orbitals.
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Crystal field theory Crystal field theory (CFT) describes the breaking of degeneracies of electron orbital states, usually ''d'' or ''f'' orbitals, due to a static electric field produced by a surrounding charge distribution (anion neighbors). This theory has been used ...
, an electrostatic model for transition metal complexes.
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Ligand field theory
Ligand field theory (LFT) describes the bonding, orbital arrangement, and other characteristics of coordination complexes. It represents an application of molecular orbital theory to transition metal complexes. A transition metal ion has nine valen ...
, the application of molecular orbital theory to transition metal complexes.
{{disambiguation
Chemical bonding