Triatomic molecule: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 02:14, 18 February 2025

A molecule composed of three atoms

A triatomic molecule is a molecule composed of three atoms, which may or may not be of the same chemical element. Triatomic molecules can be linear or nonlinear in shape.

Examples[edit]

Carbon dioxide[edit]

Carbon dioxide (CO_) is a linear triatomic molecule consisting of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. It is a significant component of the Earth's atmosphere and is involved in the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and plays a crucial role in photosynthesis.

Ozone[edit]

Ozone (O_) is a nonlinear triatomic molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. It is found in the Earth's stratosphere and forms the ozone layer, which absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. Ozone is also present at ground level as a pollutant.

Trihydrogen cation[edit]

The trihydrogen cation (H__) is a positively charged ion consisting of three hydrogen atoms. It is an important species in interstellar space and plays a role in the chemistry of star formation.

Properties[edit]

Triatomic molecules can exhibit a variety of properties depending on their structure and composition. Linear triatomic molecules, such as carbon dioxide, have a straight-line geometry, while nonlinear molecules, like ozone, have a bent shape. These structural differences affect their vibrational and rotational spectra.

Applications[edit]

Triatomic molecules are important in various fields of science and technology. Carbon dioxide is used in carbonated beverages, fire extinguishers, and as a refrigerant. Ozone is used in water purification and air purification systems. The trihydrogen cation is studied in astrophysics and quantum chemistry.

Related pages[edit]

References[edit]

Atkins, P., & de Paula, J. (2006). Physical Chemistry. Oxford University Press.
Herzberg, G. (1966). Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure. Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Carbon dioxide molecule
Ozone molecule
Trihydrogen cation

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-'''Triatomic molecules''' are molecules composed of three atoms, which may be of the same or different chemical elements. Understanding triatomic molecules is crucial in various fields of science, including [[chemistry]], [[physics]], and [[molecular biology]], due to their significance in the fundamental processes of [[nature]], such as [[photosynthesis]], [[respiration]], and the [[greenhouse effect]].
+{{Short description|A molecule composed of three atoms}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-==Structure and Bonding==
+A '''triatomic molecule''' is a [[molecule]] composed of three [[atom]]s, which may or may not be of the same [[chemical element]]. Triatomic molecules can be [[linear molecule|linear]] or [[nonlinear molecule|nonlinear]] in shape.
-The structure and bonding of triatomic molecules depend on the types of atoms involved and the nature of the chemical bonds that hold the atoms together. The most common types of chemical bonds are [[ionic bond]]s, [[covalent bond]]s, and [[metallic bond]]s. The shape of a triatomic molecule can be linear or bent (angular), determined by the [[Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory]]. For example, carbon dioxide (CO2) is a linear molecule, while water (H2O) has a bent structure.
 ==Examples==
-===Carbon Dioxide (CO2)===
-Carbon dioxide is a linear triatomic molecule consisting of one carbon atom double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It plays a vital role in the [[earth's atmosphere]] as a greenhouse gas and is a key component in the carbon cycle.
-===Water (H2O)===
+===Carbon dioxide===
-Water is a bent triatomic molecule with one oxygen atom single bonded to two hydrogen atoms. It is essential for all known forms of life and has unique properties that make it a universal solvent.
+[[File:Carbon-dioxide-3D-vdW.svg|thumb|right|200px|3D model of a carbon dioxide molecule]]
+[[Carbon dioxide]] (CO_) is a linear triatomic molecule consisting of one [[carbon]] atom and two [[oxygen]] atoms. It is a significant component of the Earth's atmosphere and is involved in the [[carbon cycle]]. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and plays a crucial role in [[photosynthesis]].
-===Ozone (O3)===
+===Ozone===
-Ozone is a triatomic molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. It has a bent structure and is crucial for absorbing the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation in the earth's stratosphere.
+[[File:Ozone-elpot-3D-vdW.png|thumb|right|200px|3D model of an ozone molecule]]
+[[Ozone]] (O_) is a nonlinear triatomic molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. It is found in the Earth's [[stratosphere]] and forms the [[ozone layer]], which absorbs most of the Sun's harmful [[ultraviolet]] radiation. Ozone is also present at ground level as a pollutant.
-==Physical and Chemical Properties==
+===Trihydrogen cation===
-The physical and chemical properties of triatomic molecules, such as boiling point, melting point, and reactivity, are influenced by their molecular structure and the type of chemical bonds. These properties determine the molecule's behavior in different chemical reactions and its state of matter under various conditions.
+[[File:Trihydrogen-cation-3D-vdW.png|thumb|right|200px|3D model of a trihydrogen cation]]
+The [[trihydrogen cation]] (H__) is a positively charged ion consisting of three hydrogen atoms. It is an important species in [[interstellar medium|interstellar space]] and plays a role in the chemistry of [[star formation]].
-==Importance in Science and Technology==
+==Properties==
-Triatomic molecules are of great importance in various scientific and technological fields. They are studied in [[spectroscopy]] for understanding molecular energy levels and in [[environmental science]] for their role in atmospheric processes. Additionally, triatomic molecules are used in industrial applications, such as refrigerants and solvents, and in the study of [[quantum mechanics]] and [[thermodynamics]].
+Triatomic molecules can exhibit a variety of properties depending on their structure and composition. Linear triatomic molecules, such as carbon dioxide, have a straight-line geometry, while nonlinear molecules, like ozone, have a bent shape. These structural differences affect their [[vibrational mode|vibrational]] and [[rotational mode|rotational]] spectra.
-==See Also==
+==Applications==
+Triatomic molecules are important in various fields of science and technology. Carbon dioxide is used in [[carbonated beverage]]s, [[fire extinguisher]]s, and as a refrigerant. Ozone is used in [[water purification]] and [[air purification]] systems. The trihydrogen cation is studied in [[astrophysics]] and [[quantum chemistry]].
+==Related pages==
+* [[Diatomic molecule]]
+* [[Polyatomic molecule]]
 * [[Molecular geometry]]
-* [[Chemical bond]]
-* [[Greenhouse gases]]
-* [[Atmospheric chemistry]]
-[[Category:Chemistry]]
+==References==
-[[Category:Molecular physics]]
+* Atkins, P., & de Paula, J. (2006). ''Physical Chemistry''. Oxford University Press.
-[[Category:Molecular biology]]
+* Herzberg, G. (1966). ''Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure''. Van Nostrand Reinhold.
-{{Chemistry-stub}}
+[[Category:Molecules]]
-{{Physics-stub}}
+[[Category:Chemical bonding]]
+<gallery>
+File:Carbon-dioxide-3D-vdW.svg|Carbon dioxide molecule
+File:Ozone-elpot-3D-vdW.png|Ozone molecule
+File:Trihydrogen-cation-3D-vdW.png|Trihydrogen cation
+</gallery>