Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond

E347196

chemical bonding theory quantum mechanical theory valence bond theory

The Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond is an early quantum mechanical model that explains covalent bonding by treating it as the result of electron exchange and spin pairing between atoms.

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All labels observed (4)

Label	Occurrences
Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond canonical	2
Heitler–London wavefunction	1
electron-pair theory of chemical bonding	1
“Wechselwirkung neutraler Atome und homöopolare Bindung nach der Quantenmechanik”	1

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	chemical bonding theory ⓘ quantum mechanical theory ⓘ valence bond theory ⓘ
appliesMethod	linear combination of atomic orbitals ⓘ symmetrization and antisymmetrization of product states ⓘ
appliesTo	covalent bond ⓘ
approachType	ab initio method ⓘ wavefunction‑based method ⓘ
assumes	localized electrons on atoms ⓘ
basedOn	Schrödinger equation ⓘ quantum mechanics ⓘ
characteristicFeature	explicit treatment of electron exchange ⓘ non‑perturbative treatment of H₂ molecule ⓘ use of spin‑correlated wavefunctions ⓘ
comparedTo	molecular orbital theory ⓘ
coreIdea	antibonding arises from antisymmetric spatial wavefunction and symmetric spin state ⓘ bonding arises from symmetric spatial wavefunction and antisymmetric spin state ⓘ
describes	electron exchange between atoms ⓘ spin pairing of electrons ⓘ
developedBy	Fritz London ⓘ Walter Heitler ⓘ
explains	bond formation via spin‑paired electron pairs ⓘ covalent bonding as electron exchange ⓘ
field	chemical physics ⓘ quantum chemistry ⓘ theoretical chemistry ⓘ
firstAppliedTo	H₂ ground state ⓘ hydrogen molecule ⓘ
historicalPeriod	early quantum mechanics ⓘ
influenced	development of quantum chemistry ⓘ
isFoundationFor	modern valence bond theory ⓘ
languageOfOriginalPublication	German ⓘ
limitation	computationally difficult for many‑electron systems ⓘ less convenient than molecular orbital theory for delocalized systems ⓘ
namedAfter	Fritz London ⓘ Walter Heitler ⓘ
predicts	destabilization of triplet spin state in H₂ ⓘ stabilization of singlet spin state in H₂ ⓘ
publication	Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: “Wechselwirkung neutraler Atome und homöopolare Bindung nach der Quantenmechanik”
relatedConcept	Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Heitler–London wavefunction exchange energy ⓘ
usesConcept	Pauli exclusion principle ⓘ antisymmetric total wavefunction ⓘ electron spin ⓘ exchange interaction ⓘ superposition of atomic wavefunctions ⓘ valence electrons ⓘ
yearProposed	1927 ⓘ

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Fritz London → notableWork → Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond ⓘ

Walter Heitler → notableWork → Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond ⓘ

Gilbert N. Lewis → notableWork → Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond ⓘ

this entity surface form: electron-pair theory of chemical bonding

Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond → publication → Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: “Wechselwirkung neutraler Atome und homöopolare Bindung nach der Quantenmechanik”

Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond → relatedConcept → Heitler–London theory of the chemical bond self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Heitler–London wavefunction