What is Dangling Bond?

A dangling bond occurs when an immobilized atom has an unsatisfied valence. Atoms typically strive to gain enough electrons to fill their valence shell, and they do this by forming covalent bonds with other atoms. In the simplest case, a single covalent bond forms when two atoms each contribute one unpaired electron, sharing these electrons between them.

However, sometimes certain atoms don’t have enough bonding partners to satisfy their valences, leading to the presence of unpaired electrons. These atoms are called free radicals. Molecules containing such atoms are also termed free radicals. When a free radical exists in an immobilized environment, like a solid material, we refer to it as an “immobilized free radical” or a “dangling bond.”

Also read: Understanding Voltage Drop in Electrical Circuits

In Summary

A dangling bond represents an unpaired electron on an immobilized atom. It occurs when an atom lacks enough bonding partners to complete its valence shell. These free radicals can be found in both atoms and molecules and are called “immobilized free radicals” when present in solid materials.