Chemical bonds, their intrinsic energies in ground-state molecules and the energies required for their actual cleavage are the subject of this book. The theory, modelled after a description of valence electrons in isolated atoms, explains how intrinsic bond energies depend on the amount of electronic charge carried by the bond-forming atoms. It also explains how bond dissociation depends on these charges. While this theory vividly explains thermochemical stability, future research could benefit from a better understanding of bond dissociation: if we learn how the environment of a molecule affects its charges, we also learn how it modifies bond dissociation in that molecule. This essay is aimed at theoretical and physical-organic chemists who are looking for new perspectives to old problems.

Core and Valence Regions of Atoms

The Valence Region of Molecules
The Chemical Bond
Bond Dissociation Energies
Electronic Charge Distributions
Applications
Assessment.