Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Ions, Molecules, and Compounds

Ions, Molecules, and Compounds

Ions - When an atom participates in a chemical reaction that results in the donation or acceptance of one or more electrons, the atom becomes positively or negatively charged. This frequently happens for most atoms to have a full valence shell. This can happen either by gaining electrons to fill a shell that is more than half-full or by giving away electrons to empty a shell that is less than half-full, thereby leaving the next smaller electron shell as the new, full valence shell. An atom with...

Molecular Orbital Theory I

Molecular Orbital Theory I

Overview of Molecular Orbital Theory

Molecular Orbital Theory II

Molecular Orbital Theory II

Molecular Orbital Energy Diagrams

MO Theory and Covalent Bonding

MO Theory and Covalent Bonding

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...

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular Forces

Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen...

Molecular Models

Molecular Models

Physical models representing molecular architectures of chemical compounds play essential roles in understanding chemistry. The use of molecular models makes it easier to visualize the structures and shapes of atoms and molecules.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Observations on the Electronic Character of Anions and Cations near Water Liquid/Vapor Interfaces.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2024

Same author

Two potential paths for OH radical formation on surfaces of pure water microdroplets.

The Journal of chemical physics·2024

Same author

An environmental impact statement for molecular anions.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2023

Same author

Why Is Quantum Chemistry So Complicated?

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2023

Same author

Finding Valence Antibonding Levels while Avoiding Rydberg, Pseudo-continuum, and Dipole-Bound Orbitals.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2022

Same author

Tribute to Alexander I. Boldyrev.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2021

Same journal

On the Nonparametric Diabatization of Coupled Electronic States.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026

Same journal

Stability of Some Ternary 13-Atom Icosahedral Clusters Assessed with Geometric, Electronic, and Thermodynamic Criteria.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026

Same journal

A Three-Phase Distribution Method for Quantifying the Intermolecular Interactions.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026

Same journal

Cooperative Effects in the Inverse Coordination Complexes of Aromatic Azines and Tin(IV) Halides.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026

Same journal

The Infrared Spectra of Neutral Dimethyl-Sulfide, -Disulfide and -Sulfoxide Biomarkers in Molecular Beams.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026

Same journal

Photoinduced Charge-Transfer Suppresses Triplet Formation Efficiency in Thiocoumarins: Evidence from Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F⁻

Published on: July 27, 2018

Molecular Anions Perspective.

¹Henry Eyring Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A

|May 1, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This perspective explores molecular anions, including valence-bound, dipole-bound, and metastable types. Electron binding energies are highly dependent on the surrounding environment, influencing stability.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks

Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks

Published on: June 9, 2023

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Published on: September 7, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F⁻

Published on: July 27, 2018

Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks

Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks

Published on: June 9, 2023

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Published on: September 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Theoretical and experimental chemistry
Quantum mechanics
Spectroscopy

Background:

Molecular anions are crucial in various chemical and physical processes.
Understanding their electronic structure and stability is key to advancing chemical theory and applications.
Recent theoretical and experimental advancements have expanded the study of diverse anion types.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of recent developments in the theoretical and experimental study of molecular anions.
To highlight key findings and emerging trends in anion research.
To discuss the influence of environmental factors on electron binding energies and anion stability.

Main Methods:

Review of theoretical treatments for valence-bound, dipole-bound, and metastable anions.
Discussion of experimental techniques, including photodetachment and electron angular distribution measurements.
Analysis of computational methods for predicting electron binding energies and stability.

Main Results:

Valence-bound anions encompass diverse types like atmospheric, catalytic, and superhalogens.
Dipole- and correlation-bound anions play roles as gateways to other states and are observed in extraterrestrial environments.
Metastable anions require specific theoretical tools for accurate characterization.
Electron binding energies are significantly influenced by solvation and molecular framework charge distribution.
Environmental factors can stabilize otherwise non-existent or metastable anions.

Conclusions:

The stability and properties of molecular anions are intricately linked to their electronic structure and surrounding environment.
Environmental effects, such as solvation and Coulombic interactions, can dramatically alter anion stability and electron binding energies.
Future research should focus on refining theoretical models and experimental techniques to further elucidate anion behavior in complex systems.