Construction kit analogy for the periodic table of elements
From apm
The construction kit analogy for the periodic table of elements is about naively treating the periodic table of elements as if it where a construction kit.
That is assuming the atoms of chemical elements act like soft flexible construction kit parts that come with a fixed number of connection points (given by their group in the periodic table).
This has severe limits though. It works well for some combinations of the light nonmetallic elements on the upper right of the periodic table.
But even there are wild deviations:
- SF6 (unexpected according to the construction kit analogy) – sulfur should have two bonds given its group ...
... four more fluorines aggressively grab four more electrons though due to fluorines high electronegativity.
Fluorine really really wants to fill that last missing electron to become as noble as neon. - SH2 (expected)
Related
For details see: Limits of construction kit analogy