Day 2: Molecular Distances and Bonding

  1. Find as much evidence as you can in the data arguing for the existence of "double" or "triple" bonds and discuss it. Examples include C=C, CºC, C=N, CºN, C=O, CºO, C=S, S=O, and P=O.
  2. Draw appropriate Lewis structures in each case (including double or triple bonds), indicating by each bond the actual distance in pm.
  3. Compare these species to ones having single bonds, e.g. ethylene (H3C=CH3) with ethane (H3C–CH3), or acetonitrile (CH3CºN), with ethylamine (H3C–NH2).
  4. In the case of H2SO4, show evidence for both S=O and S–O; in the case of H3PO4, show evidence of P=O and P–O.
  5. How does all this relate to the "octet rule."