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Valence Bond Theory

Valence bond theory was developed to describe where the shared electrons of two or more chemically bonded atoms would most likely be at any given moment in time. In the valence bond, atomic orbitals of bonded atoms overlap, and electrons orbit around the atoms and also in the bond region. If it were made human sized, bonded atoms would resemble soap bubbles, with the border between the bubbles more a fuzzy field.

Valence bond theory assumes that the bond is weakly coupled orbitals with only a slight overlap. There may be two different types of overlapping orbitals: sigma and pi. The sigma bond is shared when electrons overlap on the axes. Pi bonds are side-to-side. The bond type depends on the orbital in which the electron normally exists. Atoms bonded multiple times may have both sigma and pi bonds. Typically, a sigma bond is the primary bond, and up to two pi bonds may also be made.

Valence bond theory explains more about the way atoms bond together than theories dealing with ionic bond, but it does not explain everything. Quantum theory goes into more complex detail about atomic bonds.

Web Resources On Valence Bond Theory

Valence Bond Theory and Hybrid Atomic Orbitals
Molecular Geometry, using Orbital Hybridization

Book Resources On Valence Bond Theory

Valence Bond Theory by David Cooper
Unified Valence Bond Theory of Electronic Structure Applications by N. D. Epiotis

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