Molecular Geometry & Bonding
what the shape decides
Ladder

Multicentre — the ladder

One essay so far against this idea. A ladder is the distinct arguments that stand against one idea, and this one has room to grow.
  1. ringlevel pattern (degeneracies, lowest first)shellπ energyC44 e⁻open2 unpaired4α + 4.000βC66 e⁻closed4n+2 (n = 1)6α + 8.000βC88 e⁻open2 unpaired8α + 9.657βC1010 e⁻closed4n+2 (n = 2)10α + 12.944βfilled and then asked, not matched against a ruleamber = non-bonding

    Where two-centre bonding stops

    A bond between two atoms is a special case, not the general one. Rings, clusters and metals are held together by orbitals spread over many centres, and the arithmetic that describes them is the arithmetic already used for benzene.

    rung 1 · beyond

All ladders