Thursday, May 30, 2013

Why are bonds different lengths?

(above) Not a bond

It must have crossed your minds at some point why are some bonds longer than others. Why is a hydrogen bond long, a covalent bond short and a double covalent bond shorter still. 

The answer is simple.

Bonds aren't physical things like pieces of string they are just attractions. The stronger the attraction the shorter the bond. So, simply covalent bonds are stronger than hydrogen bonds so they are shorter. 

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