Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Covalent Bonds01:29

Covalent Bonds

162.9K
Overview
162.9K
Covalent Bonds01:08

Covalent Bonds

11.3K
Overview
When two atoms share electrons to complete their valence shells, they create a covalent bond. An atom's electronegativity—the force with which shared electrons are pulled towards an atom—determines how the electrons are shared. Molecules formed with covalent bonds can be either polar or nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds; the electrons are shared equally. Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally,...
11.3K
Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures02:46

Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures

61.4K
Compared to ionic bonds, which results from the transfer of electrons between metallic and nonmetallic atoms, covalent bonds result from the mutual attraction of atoms for a “shared” pair of electrons.
61.4K
Polar Covalent Bonds02:24

Polar Covalent Bonds

29.6K
Covalent bonds are formed between two atoms when both have similar tendencies to attract electrons to themselves (i.e., when both atoms have identical or fairly similar ionization energies and electron affinities). Nonmetal atoms frequently form covalent bonds with other nonmetal atoms. For example, the hydrogen molecule, H2, contains a covalent bond between its two hydrogen atoms. When two separate hydrogen atoms with a particular potential energy approach each other, their valence orbitals...
29.6K
MO Theory and Covalent Bonding02:40

MO Theory and Covalent Bonding

14.1K
The molecular orbital theory describes the distribution of electrons in molecules in a manner similar to the distribution of electrons in atomic orbitals. The region of space in which a valence electron in a molecule is likely to be found is called a molecular orbital. Mathematically, the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) generates molecular orbitals. Combinations of in-phase atomic orbital wave functions result in regions with a high probability of electron density, while...
14.1K
Network Covalent Solids02:18

Network Covalent Solids

16.2K
Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...
16.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Atoms and Bonds as Synergisms of Interacting Electrons and Nuclei. The Origin of Chemical Bonds in Polyatomic Molecules.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025
Same author

The Electronic Structure and Bonding in Some Small Molecules.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Cluster Formation Induced by Local Dielectric Saturation in Restricted Primitive Model Electrolytes.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2024
Same author

The General Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure System (GAMESS): Novel Methods on Novel Architectures.

Journal of chemical theory and computation·2023
Same author

Analysis of Bonding by Quantum Chemistry─Resolving Delocalization Stabilization in a Mechanistic Basis and New Hückel Model.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2023
Same author

Active Thermochemical Tables: Enthalpies of Formation of Bromo- and Iodo-Methanes, Ethenes and Ethynes.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
09:34

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

8.0K

The Virial Theorem and Covalent Bonding.

George B Bacskay1, Sture Nordholm2, Klaus Ruedenberg3

  • 1School of Chemistry , The University of Sydney , Sydney NSW 2006 , Australia.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A
|August 31, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Covalent bonding arises from electrons lowering kinetic energy via expansion, not just electrostatic forces. This wave mechanical effect drives molecular stability, challenging traditional views based on the virial theorem.

More Related Videos

Covalent Labeling with Diethylpyrocarbonate for Studying Protein Higher-Order Structure by Mass Spectrometry
10:36

Covalent Labeling with Diethylpyrocarbonate for Studying Protein Higher-Order Structure by Mass Spectrometry

Published on: June 15, 2021

6.1K
From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
06:44

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding

Published on: March 24, 2018

69.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
09:34

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

8.0K
Covalent Labeling with Diethylpyrocarbonate for Studying Protein Higher-Order Structure by Mass Spectrometry
10:36

Covalent Labeling with Diethylpyrocarbonate for Studying Protein Higher-Order Structure by Mass Spectrometry

Published on: June 15, 2021

6.1K
From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
06:44

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding

Published on: March 24, 2018

69.6K

Area of Science:

  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Theoretical Chemistry
  • Chemical Physics

Background:

  • The traditional view posits that electrostatic forces and potential energy changes drive covalent bonding stability.
  • The virial theorem is often cited as rigorous support for this electrostatic perspective on molecular stabilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the virial theorem in covalent bonding by examining systems with non-Coulombic potentials.
  • To determine the primary driving force behind covalent bond formation and molecular stability.

Main Methods:

  • Calculations were performed on analogues of H2+ and H2 molecules.
  • Coulombic 1/r potentials were replaced with Gaussian-type potentials to create model systems.
  • Wave mechanical bonding analysis was employed to analyze energy changes and electron behavior.

Main Results:

  • Covalent bonds formed even when the virial theorem did not hold in the modified systems.
  • The primary driving force identified was electron delocalization, leading to lower interatomic kinetic energy.
  • Wave mechanical analysis yielded results analogous to those with Coulombic potentials, highlighting kinetic energy's role.

Conclusions:

  • Covalent bonding is fundamentally driven by the wave mechanical tendency of electrons to reduce kinetic energy through expansion.
  • The electrostatic view and the strict applicability of the virial theorem are not essential for covalent bond formation.
  • Electron delocalization is the key factor in stabilizing molecules through covalent bonds.