Bonding pair of electrons

Methane (CH ₄ ) in two-dimensional representation. The molecule contains four equivalent (covalent) C – H bonds between the central carbon atom and the four hydrogen atoms.

Methane in three-dimensional representation. The bond angles between the four covalent C – H bonds are each 109.5 °.

A bonding pair of electrons is a pair of electrons that lie between two atoms and thus form a covalent bond between the atoms. In valence line formulas , binding electron pairs are shown as a line between element symbols. In contrast to ionic bonds, covalent bonds are directional.

By sharing bonding electron pairs and, if necessary, non- bonding electron pairs , atoms can achieve the stable electron configuration of the noble gases ( noble gas configuration ).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Albert Gossauer: Structure and reactivity of biomolecules . Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta, Zurich 2006, ISBN 978-3-906390-29-1 , p. 11.
2. ↑ Ulrich Lüning: Organic reactions . 2nd Edition. Elsevier, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-8274-1834-0 , pp. 3-4.