Abstract It is known that in aromatic molecules the individual links have a length which is neither that of a pure single bond, nor of a pure double bond, but which is, in general, intermediate between the two. In earlier papers of this series (Lennard-Jones 1937; Penney 1937) two methods have been outlined for calculating these lengths and the energies associated with them. An approximate description of a particular link can be given if we assign to it an order. This order will be the sum of two parts, the one from the σ-bonds which is assumed to have the value unity in all cases, and the other from the π-bonds. We may call this latter contribution the “mobile order” p, since it arises from the motion of those electrons which Lennard-Jones (1937) calls “mobile electrons”. For a pure single bond such as ethane, the total order is 1; for a pure double bond such as ethylene, the total order is 2; for a pure triple bond such as acetylene, the total order is 3. The corresponding values of p are 0, 1 and 2 respectively. For other links, as for example in benzene, p will have a fractional value.
C. A. Coulson (Tue,) studied this question.
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