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Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
Chapter 8, Problem 71a,c

State whether each of these statements is true or false. (a) The longer the bond, the stronger the bond. (c) A typical double bond length is in the 500–1000 pm range.

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To evaluate statement (a), consider the relationship between bond length and bond strength. Generally, shorter bonds are stronger because the atoms are closer together, resulting in a stronger attraction. Therefore, longer bonds are typically weaker.
For statement (a), recall that single bonds are longer and weaker compared to double and triple bonds, which are shorter and stronger. This helps in determining the truth value of the statement.
To evaluate statement (c), understand the typical bond lengths for single, double, and triple bonds. Double bonds are usually shorter than single bonds but longer than triple bonds.
Typical bond lengths for double bonds are around 120-140 pm (picometers), which is much shorter than the 500-1000 pm range mentioned in the statement.
Based on the typical bond lengths, determine whether the given range for a double bond in statement (c) is accurate or not.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Bond Length and Strength

In general, bond length and bond strength are inversely related; longer bonds tend to be weaker. This is because longer bonds typically involve less overlap between atomic orbitals, resulting in a lower bond energy. Therefore, the statement 'The longer the bond, the stronger the bond' is false.
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Types of Chemical Bonds

Chemical bonds can be classified into single, double, and triple bonds, with double bonds being stronger and shorter than single bonds. A double bond consists of one sigma bond and one pi bond, which increases the bond strength and decreases the bond length compared to a single bond. Understanding these types is essential for evaluating bond characteristics.
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Bond Length Measurements

Bond lengths are typically measured in picometers (pm), with single bonds generally ranging from 150 to 200 pm, double bonds around 120 to 140 pm, and triple bonds even shorter. The statement regarding typical double bond lengths being in the 500–1000 pm range is false, as double bonds are significantly shorter than that range.
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