Many sciences are described by two conceptually different but complementary theories, one visual and insightful the other better suited to computation. Chemistry has a powerful computational theory in quantum mechanics, but its visual and insightful theory of valence has never been properly developed. The rigorous theory of valence described here takes the atom as its fundamental particle. As the theory has no knowledge of the atom's internal structure, the valence is not associated with the electron, hence it is free to adopt fractional values. Each atom is characterized by two experimental properties: its valence determined from the compositions of observed compounds, and its size determined from its observed coordination numbers. These two properties are able to describe a surprising amount of chemistry. The amount of valence an atom typically uses to form a bond determines both the conditions under which bonds can be formed and their resulting properties. A valence definition of electronegativity removes the need to distinguish between ionic and covalent bonds by defining the more nuanced concept of bond polarization, clearing up much of the confusion found in popular bonding models. The theory is compatible with the physical picture provided by quantum mechanics but not with the physically unrealistic ionic model. It can be used for analyzing, modeling, and teaching of chemical structure and reactivity, but having no knowledge of the internal structure of the atom it cannot be used to calculate energies or any of the properties that depend on the energy; for that quantum mechanics must be used.

I. D. Brown

Structural Chemistry

结构化学是一个国际论坛，用于发表同行评审的原创研究论文，这些论文涵盖物质的凝聚态和气态，涉及多种确定结构和能量学的技术、其结果以及从这些研究中得出的结论。该杂志克服了当前文献中结构确定、能量学和应用领域之间的不自然分离，并为其他化学学科架起了一座桥梁。其全面的报道包括对结果的广泛讨论、对各种性质之间关系的观察，以及结构和能量信息在所有化学领域的描述和应用。我们欢迎结构化学研究中涉及方法论和方法讨论的最广泛的研究。结构、实验、理论和计算，以及它们的组合。我们鼓励讨论因其化学和生物学意义而收集的结构信息。

Structural Chemistry is an international forum dedicated to publishing peer-reviewed original research papers. These papers cover the study of materials in both condensed and gaseous states, employing various techniques for determining structure and energetics, as well as the results and conclusions drawn from these studies. The journal aims to bridge the unnatural separation between structure determination, energetics, and application fields found in current literature, connecting them with other disciplines of chemistry. Our comprehensive reports include in-depth discussions of results, observations of relationships among various properties, and descriptions and applications of structural and energetic information across all fields of chemistry. We welcome a wide range of research involving methodological discussions and approaches in structural chemistry, encompassing structure, experimentation, theory, and computation, as well as their combinations. We encourage discussions of structural information collected for its chemical and biological significance.

结构化学是一个国际性论坛，专注于发表经过同行评审的原创研究论文。这些论文涵盖了物质在凝聚态和气态下的研究，涉及多种结构和能量学的确定技术、研究结果及其结论。该杂志旨在克服当前文献中结构确定、能量学与应用领域之间的不自然分离，并为其他化学学科架起桥梁。我们提供全面的报道，包括对研究结果的深入讨论、对各种性质之间关系的观察，以及结构和能量信息在所有化学领域的描述与应用。我们欢迎涉及结构化学研究中方法论和方法讨论的广泛研究，涵盖结构、实验、理论和计算及其组合。我们鼓励讨论因其化学和生物学意义而收集的结构信息。

A rigorous theory of valence

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY	2