¶ Chemical Bonds
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Index Entry
Chemical Bonds:
"In 1885 van’t Hoff demonstrated to organic chemists that all organic chemistry is tetrahedrally configured. We have tetrahedra vertex to vertex: single bond. A constellation of tetrahedra linked together entirely by such universal jointing, which is called single bonded, uses lots of space and is very characteristic of the gases. Engineers speak of a single bond as ‘pin ended.’ Double vertex: double bond. Two vertexes line up to form what engineers call a ‘hinge.’ A constellation of tetrahedra interlinked only with double or hinge bonding is as yet flexible, but sum-totally as an aggregation and space-filling complex, is noncompressible-- as are liquids.
“When tetrahedra are attached to one another by three vertexes they are triple bonded. Engineers call triple bonds ‘fixed ends.’ They are rigid-- or they are stable like three-point landings of airplanes, or like three-legged stools an uneven ground, or, like camera tripods. Quadrivalent: four bonded-- as when soft light weight carbon contracts to form dense diamond. All four vertexes are congruent.”
