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Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory
Chapter 11, Problem 53b

The valence electron configurations of several atoms are shown here. How many bonds can each atom make without hybridization? b. P 3s23p3

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and are crucial in determining how an atom can bond with others. The number of valence electrons influences the atom's ability to form bonds, as these electrons are involved in chemical reactions and bond formation.
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Bonding Capacity

The bonding capacity of an atom refers to the maximum number of bonds it can form with other atoms. This is determined by the number of unpaired valence electrons; for example, an atom with five valence electrons can typically form three bonds, as it can share its unpaired electrons with other atoms.
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Hybridization

Hybridization is a concept in chemistry that describes the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals, which can influence the geometry and bonding properties of molecules. However, the question specifies 'without hybridization,' meaning we focus solely on the existing valence electron configuration to determine bonding capacity.
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