Question

What are three-centered bonds?

Short answer

Three atoms are bound together by two electrons in an electron-deficient covalent bond

Step-by-step solution

Definition of bond

A chemical bond is what binds atoms in a molecule together. Electrostatic interactions between positively charged atomic nuclei and negatively charged electrons cause bonds to form.

Describe three centred bond

• Three-center two-electron bond $\left(3c-2e\right)$ is an electron-poor covalent connection in which two electrons hold three atoms together.
• Three molecular orbitals are formed by combining three atomic orbitals: one bonding, one non-bonding, and one antibonding.
• The two electrons enter the bonding orbital, creating a net bonding effect and a chemical link between the three atoms.
• One B atom bridges two others in a three-center two-electron B-B-B bond in numerous boranes and elemental boron.
• Trihydrogen cation, -norbornyl cation, ethanium, and other compounds with adata-custom-editor="chemistry" $\left(3c-2e\right)$ bond are examples.