Chemical Bonds and Light Behavior

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts in chemical bonds and the behavior of light.

What is a chemical bond?

A chemical bond is an attraction between atoms that allows them to achieve a more stable electron configuration, usually by completing their valence shell.

What is the octet rule?

Atoms form bonds to have eight valence electrons, achieving stability like noble gases.

What are the types of chemical bonds?

Ionic: transfer of electrons (metal + nonmetal); Covalent: sharing of electrons equally (nonmetal + nonmetal); Polar covalent: unequal sharing due to electronegativity difference.

How does electronegativity affect bond type?

The greater the difference in electronegativity, the more polar the bond; large differences create ionic bonds.

What does VSEPR theory predict?

It predicts the shape of molecules based on electron-pair repulsion around the central atom.

What are common VSEPR shapes?

Linear, bent, trigonal planar, tetrahedral.

How to determine if a molecule is polar or nonpolar?

Check both bond polarity and molecular shape; asymmetry and polar bonds indicate a polar molecule.

How does bonding affect physical properties?

Bond type and polarity affect melting/boiling points and solubility; ionic compounds have high melting points, polar compounds dissolve in polar solvents.

What happens during absorption and emission of light?

Electrons absorb energy to jump to higher levels and emit light when they fall back down.

What is spectroscopy used for?

To identify substances by analyzing light absorbed or emitted; used in chemistry and medicine.

What happens in an MRI related to light and magnetism?

It uses radio waves and magnetic fields to excite hydrogen nuclei and create images of soft tissues.

Why do objects appear colored?

They reflect certain wavelengths of visible light and absorb others.

How is energy (E) related to frequency (ν) and wavelength (λ)?

E = hν, and c = λν, where c is the speed of light.

What do absorption spectra show?

They show which wavelengths are absorbed, revealing electronic transitions and element identity.

What is the range of visible light?

400–700 nm, with violet being the shortest wavelength and red the longest.

What is the order of the electromagnetic spectrum from low to high energy?

Radio → Microwave → Infrared → Visible → Ultraviolet → X-ray → Gamma.

What is light?

Light behaves as both a wave and a particle (photon).