Skip to main content
Library homepage
 

Text Color

Text Size

 

Margin Size

 

Font Type

Enable Dyslexic Font
Chemistry LibreTexts

Valence Bond Theory

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

Valence bond theory is one of two basic theories, along with molecular orbital theory, that were developed to use the methods of quantum mechanics to explain chemical bonding. It focuses on how the atomic orbitals of the dissociated atoms combine to give individual chemical bonds when a molecule is formed. In contrast, molecular orbital theory has orbitals that cover the whole molecule.

Contributors and Attributions


Valence Bond Theory is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

Support Center

How can we help?