Catenation

We can say that catenation is a phenomena in which an atom create a strong covalent connection with its own atoms. Due to its tiny size and ability to create complex structures, carbon shares the trait of catenation to the greatest extent possible.

A number of ties to its own catenation is only possible if the following requirements are met. (i)The element’s valency is greater or equal in comparison to two. (ii) The element should be able to form bonds with itself. (iii)It is said that self-bonds must be as strong as the relationship between the elements are . (iv) Kinetic inertness of the catenated compound to other molecules. Carbon has all of the aforementioned characteristics and may produce a large variety of compounds with other elements.

What do you understand by catenation?

The catenation is said to be the bonding of atoms having same element into a series, known as a chain, according to chemistry.

The theory also tells us if, chain or ring form is open and  the ends are not joined to one other (an open-chain compound), or closed if the ends are bonded in a ring (a closed-chain compound) (a cyclic compound). Word “catenate and catenation” derives  from the Latin word catena, which means “chain.”

Catenation Examples

There are some following typical examples of catenation or components that show catenation:

• Carbon
• Silicon
• Sulphur
• Boron

Carbon is usual  in catenation, where it forms covalent connections with other carbon atoms to build larger chains and structures. That’s why nature has such a large variety of organic chemicals. According to  the study of catenated carbon structures in organic chemistry, carbon is highly regarded for its catenation capabilities.

Meanwhile, carbon is far from the only element capable of creating such catenae; silicon, sulphur, and boron are just a few of the main group elements that may generate a variety of catenae.

To understand catenation more clearly we have to gain some knowledge about carbon & hydrogen. 

Carbon 

It creates covalent connections with other carbon atoms to build larger chains and structures, and is the most easily catenated element. An occurrence of such a large amount of organic compounds in nature is due to this. Catenation is one of the carbon’s very good characteristics, and organic chemistry is basically the study of catenated carbon compounds (and known as catenae). As we know that in   biochemistry, carbon chains incorporate different additional elements onto the backbone of carbon, such as hydrogen, oxygen, and biometals.

Yet, carbon is far from the only element capable of generating such catenae; numerous other main-group elements, such as hydrogen, boron, silicon, phosphorus, and sulphur, may also produce a diverse spectrum of catenae.

A capacity of an element to catenate is mostly determined by its bond energy to itself, which lowers as more diffuse orbitals (those with a greater azimuthal quantum number) overlap to form the bond. Therefore, the  conclusion is the carbon, which has the smallest diffuse valence shell p orbital, may build longer p-p sigma bonded chains of atoms than heavier elements with larger valence shell orbitals. An electronegativity of the element in issue, the molecular orbital , and the capacity to create various types of covalent bonds are all steric and electronic aspects that impact catenation capability. The sigma overlie in the middle of its nearby carbon atoms is sufficiently great to allow the formation of fully stable chains.

Hydrogen

Three-dimensional structures of tetrahedra, chains, and rings are interlinked by hydrogen bonding in concepts of water structure.

Hydrogen bonding is recognised to aid in the creation of chain structures in organic chemistry. 

In 2008, a polycatenated network was developed, comprising rings made from metal-templated hemispheres and joined by hydrogen bonds. As we know that Hydrogen bonding is widely recognised in organic chemistry for facilitating the creation of chain structures. 4-tricyclene C10H16O, for example, represents catenated hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups, resulting in helical chains; crystalline isophthalic acid – C8H6O4 is made up of molecules joined by hydrogen bonds, resulting in endless chains.. It is said that carbon nanotube is projected to become metallic at moderate pressure, 163.5 GPa, amid the peculiar circumstances of a one-dimensional succession of hydrogen molecules trapped within a single wall. This is up to 40% of the 400 GPa pressure anticipated to be required to metalize ordinary hydrogen, a pressure that can be hard to procure experimentally.

Conclusion 

The catenation is said to be the bonding of atoms having the same element into a series, known as a chain, according to chemistry. Due to its tiny size and ability to create complex structures, carbon shares the trait of catenation to the greatest extent possible. A number of ties to its own Catenation is only possible if the following requirements are met. The Catenation is said to be the bonding of atoms having the same element into a series, known as a chain, according to chemistry. According to the study of catenated carbon structures in organic chemistry, carbon is highly regarded for its catenation capabilities. Meanwhile, carbon is far from the only element capable of creating such catenae; silicon, sulphur, and boron are just a few of the main group elements that may generate a variety of catenae.