Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

09:56
High Resolution Physical Characterization of Single Metallic Nanoparticles
Published on: June 28, 2019
Electron localization function and electron localizability indicator applied to study the bonding in the
Slawomir Berski1, Zdzislaw Latajka, Agnieszka J Gordon
1Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw 54-210, Poland. sberski@wchuwr.pl
Journal of Computational Chemistry
|February 2, 2011
Summary
This study analyzes the electronic structure of peroxynitrous acid (HOONO) and its biradicaloid form. It reveals charge-shift bonds and identifies the O-O bond as the weakest, influencing HOONO dissociation.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Chemistry
- Theoretical Chemistry
- Chemical Physics
Background:
- Peroxynitrous acid (HOONO) is an important molecule in atmospheric and biological chemistry.
- Understanding its electronic structure is crucial for predicting its reactivity and stability.
- Previous studies have explored various isomers and properties of HOONO.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ground-state electronic structure of peroxynitrous acid (HOONO) and its singlet biradicaloid form (HO···ONO).
- To analyze the nature of the O-O and N-O bonds using topological methods.
- To determine the most favorable dissociation pathway for HOONO.
Main Methods:
- Utilized topological analysis of the electron localization function (ELF) and electron localizability indicator (ELI-D).
- Employed density functional theory (DFT) with B3LYP, M05, M052X, M06 functionals, alongside CCSD and CASSCF levels.
- Calculations were performed for three HOONO isomers (cis-cis, cis-perp, trans-perp) and biradicaloid forms.
Main Results:
- Identified charge-shift character for the N-O and O-O bonds, with the O-O bond being more electron-deficient.
- The B3LYP functional accurately predicted the geometrical structure of HOONO isomers.
- The most favorable dissociation pathway involves breaking the electron-deficient O-O bond (HOONO → HO + ONO).
Conclusions:
- HOONO exhibits unique bonding characteristics, including protocovalent and electron-depleted bonds.
- The O-O bond is the primary site for dissociation, leading to HO and ONO radicals.
- The electronic structure of the biradicaloid form (HO···ONO) shows a closed-shell O···O interaction with delocalized spins.
Related Concept Videos
Reactivity of Enolate Ions
Enolate ions are formed by the acid–base reaction of a carbonyl compound with a base. This leads to deprotonation of the α hydrogen atom, leading to a resonance-stabilized enolate ion where one of the contributing structures is an oxyanion, which imparts additional stability. Therefore, the proton on the α carbon is more acidic in nature than that of other sp3-hybridized C–H bonds but less acidic than those in O–H bonds where the negative charge in the conjugate base is localized on the oxygen...
Radical Formation: Homolysis
A bond is formed between two atoms by sharing two electrons. When this bond is broken by supplying sufficient energy, either two electrons can be taken up by one atom forming ions by the cleavage called heterolysis, or the two electrons are shared by two atoms, with one each creating radicals by the cleavage called homolysis.
Lewis Structures of Molecular Compounds and Polyatomic Ions
To draw Lewis structures for complicated molecules and molecular ions, it is helpful to follow a step-by-step procedure as outlined:
Exceptions to the Octet Rule
Many covalent molecules have central atoms that do not have eight electrons in their Lewis structures. These molecules fall into three categories:
Enolate Mechanism Conventions
When a carbonyl compound is treated with a strong base, the α position gets deprotonated to give a resonance-stabilized intermediate called an enolate. Enolates are ambident nucleophiles because they possess two nucleophilic sites that can attack an electrophile owing to the delocalization of the negative charge between the α carbon and oxygen atoms. When the oxygen atom attacks an electrophile, it is called O-attack, whereas electrophilic attack via the α carbon is known as C-attack.
C-attack...
C-attack...
Resonance
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N-O and N=O bonds.
