Increased-Valence or Electronic Hypervalence for a Diatomic One-Electron Bond

Abstract

With a and b as overlapping atomic orbitals to form the A–B bonding molecular orbital ψab = a + kb, it is deduced that for k ≠ 0, 1, or ∞, either the A atom or the B atom in the one-electron bond valence bond structure (A · B) exhibits increased-valence or electronic hypervalence, namely its valence exceeds unity. The result is illustrated using the results of STO-6G valence bond calculations for the one-electron bond of LiH+ and an excited state for H2CN. Valencies for the ground-states of H2+, H2, and H2− are also considered.