Valence bond theory—its birth, struggles with molecular orbital theory, its present state and future prospects

Sason Shaik; David Danovich; Philippe C. Hiberty

doi:10.3390/molecules26061624

Valence bond theory—its birth, struggles with molecular orbital theory, its present state and future prospects

Sason Shaik^*, David Danovich, Philippe C. Hiberty^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute of Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

This essay describes the successive births of valence bond (VB) theory during 1916–1931. The alternative molecular orbital (MO) theory was born in the late 1920s. The presence of two seemingly different descriptions of molecules by the two theories led to struggles between the main proponents, Linus Pauling and Robert Mulliken, and their supporters. Until the 1950s, VB theory was dominant, and then it was eclipsed by MO theory. The struggles will be discussed, as well as the new dawn of VB theory, and its future.

Original language	English
Article number	1624
Journal	Molecules
Volume	26
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061624
State	Published - 15 Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

Electron-pair bonds
Hund
Hückel
Lewis
Molecular orbital
Mulliken
Pauling
Valence bond

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abstract = "This essay describes the successive births of valence bond (VB) theory during 1916–1931. The alternative molecular orbital (MO) theory was born in the late 1920s. The presence of two seemingly different descriptions of molecules by the two theories led to struggles between the main proponents, Linus Pauling and Robert Mulliken, and their supporters. Until the 1950s, VB theory was dominant, and then it was eclipsed by MO theory. The struggles will be discussed, as well as the new dawn of VB theory, and its future.",

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Y1 - 2021/3/15

N2 - This essay describes the successive births of valence bond (VB) theory during 1916–1931. The alternative molecular orbital (MO) theory was born in the late 1920s. The presence of two seemingly different descriptions of molecules by the two theories led to struggles between the main proponents, Linus Pauling and Robert Mulliken, and their supporters. Until the 1950s, VB theory was dominant, and then it was eclipsed by MO theory. The struggles will be discussed, as well as the new dawn of VB theory, and its future.

AB - This essay describes the successive births of valence bond (VB) theory during 1916–1931. The alternative molecular orbital (MO) theory was born in the late 1920s. The presence of two seemingly different descriptions of molecules by the two theories led to struggles between the main proponents, Linus Pauling and Robert Mulliken, and their supporters. Until the 1950s, VB theory was dominant, and then it was eclipsed by MO theory. The struggles will be discussed, as well as the new dawn of VB theory, and its future.

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KW - Hückel

KW - Lewis

KW - Molecular orbital

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Valence bond theory—its birth, struggles with molecular orbital theory, its present state and future prospects

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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