Bonding and Packing in Minerals

Given an understanding of the structure, size, and composition of the chemical elements (Chapter 7), we are ready to study the forces that hold atoms together in their symmetric configurations. This chapter introduces Linus Pauling's "rules" that help us understand the ways atoms bond to each other to form polyhedra, and, in turn, how these polyhedra join together to form crystal structures. Metallic, covalent, and ionic bonds are explained by exploring the underlying atomic physics.

Topics covered in Chapter 8 include:

The Forces that Bind
A Dog-Gone Good Analogy for Chemical Bonding
Metallic Bonds
Covalent Bonds
Intermediate Covalent-Ionic Bonding
Ionic Bonds
Van der Waals Bonds
Hydrogen Bonds