Bond distance

Definition

Bond distance is the average distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms in a molecule. It is often measured in picometers (pm) or angstroms (Å).

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Bond distances are influenced by the types of atoms involved and their bonding environment.
2. Single bonds are generally longer than double bonds, which are longer than triple bonds.
3. Bond distance can affect molecular properties such as polarity and reactivity.
4. Experimental techniques like X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy are used to measure bond distances.
5. Changes in bond distance can indicate changes in molecular geometry or electronic structure.

Review Questions

Related terms

Bond Order:

The number of chemical bonds between a pair of atoms; single, double, and triple bonds correspond to bond orders of one, two, and three respectively.

Molecular Geometry:

The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule.

Polarity:

A measure of the distribution of electric charge over the atoms joined by the bond or within a molecule.