A Model Polyatomic: Methane

Rather than proceed to considerations of the bonding in other diatomic molecules which have more complex bonding patterns, this chapter looks at perhaps the most important generalisation of the ideas developed so far: the electronic structure and bonding in polyatomic molecules. The simplest of these is the “fundamental” organic molecule methane, CH₄. The theory of the bonding in homonuclear and heteronuclear diatoms—which involve new types of bond—is deferred until Chapter 9.