Abstract
IN an interesting paper on electronic structures in unsaturated molecules, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society for March, Mr. E. D. Eastman discusses multiple bonds in relation to the octet theory of atomic structure due to G. N. Lewis. It is assumed that the pair of electrons possessed by elements of the first period (except hydrogen), although usually not acting as valency electrons, and forming a shell persisting throughout the entire period of elements, may take part in the formation of outer groups of octets when it is otherwise difficult for these to be formed. The double bond is then pictured as one atom in which the central electrons have been drawn into the outer octet, joined by two electrons to another atom in which the normal arrangement is preserved. In cases of triple bonding the two inner electrons are assumed to have been drawn into the outer shell of two adjacent atoms, there being again two electrons held in common.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
A Modified Octet Theory. Nature 109, 629 (1922). https://doi.org/10.1038/109629a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/109629a0