Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Science
  4. / Physical Sciences
  5. / Chemistry
  6. / Atomic And Molecular Chemistry
  7. / Molecules

by Science Whiz on December 3rd, 2009

Science Whiz

Question

Help answer this question below.

Can molecules exist if the valence electron shell is not full of 8 molecules?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 1 helpful answer below.

  • by alchemist on December 7th, 2009

    alchemist

    I believe you "full of 8 electrons".
    First, in most compounds "full" just means "shared, for example nitrogen gas has two atoms of nitrogen but only 5 electrons in each valence shell. So by sharing 3 of these between them, each nitrogen can feel as if it has 5 plus another 3 = 8 electrons in the valence shell. It is this sharing of 6 electrons total that gives three bonds between the two nitrogens and makes it a stable and relatively inert molecule or substance.
    There are molecules, such as NO for example, which clearly have a left over electron after sharing. N has 5 and O has 6. If they shared 3 to keep N happy, there would be one unshared electron left behind on the oxygen (a simplistic view, you need to look at the orbitals involved). This tends to make the molecule reactive. Such molecules are known as "free radicals". Oddly enough, oxygen gas, two O atoms with 6 electrons each, also appears to share 3 electrons leaving an unshared electron on each O atom making it a diradical. Oxygen is a very reactive molecule which makes it both useful and very dangerous to life. There is a good reason for the atmosphere to contain on 20% oxygen. Below 15% we would have trouble breathing and above 25% forest fires would be unstoppable.
    Big molecules can also be "radicals".
    Boron only has three electrons in the valence shell and can form compounds in which each boron only has a share of 6 electrons, not 8. There are no unshared electrons so they are not free radicals, but they do tend to go looking for other molecules to share electrons with.
    So, the answer to question is YES, molecules with other than 8 electrons in the valence shell can exist, and they tend to make chemistry a tad more interesting.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Can molecules exist if the valence electron shell is not full of 8 molecules?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

H3o electrons
Many mnay structures can chloroethanol

Answerbag

a Demand Media company