Hello, a donor acceptor bond which is another name for a coordinate bond / dative bond is a bond where one atom furnishes both atoms of a bonding pair. One example where the donor acceptor bond is used is the H3O+ ion. One of the bonds is a donor acceptor bond.

But when we add a OH- to a H+ ion a H20 molecule forms. The only way it could form is when the O of OH- bonds itself to H+ through a donor acceptor bond where O is the atom that gives a bonding pair. Afterwards H20 is formed.
Does that mean H20 has one bond which is donor acceptor?

Thanks in advance!!

Question

Hello,  a donor acceptor bond which is another name  for a coordinate bond / dative bond is a bond where one atom furnishes both atoms of a bonding pair. One example where the donor acceptor bond is used is the H3O+ ion. One of the bonds is a donor acceptor bond. 

But when we add a OH- to a H+ ion a H20 molecule forms. The only way it could form is when the O of OH- bonds itself to H+ through a donor acceptor bond where O is the atom that gives a bonding pair.  Afterwards H20 is formed.
Does that mean H20 has one bond which is donor acceptor?   

Thanks in advance!!

aaronq · Answer

$H^+$ never exists by itself, H is always bound to something else, in water, it exists as $H_3O^+$. But yeah, a pair of electrons on hydroxide attack the hydrogen atom leaving the bonding pair behind. |dw:1380088669483:dw|

anonymous · Answer

Thanks aaronq, im not quite understaiding what you are trying to tell me with "e pair that goes to atom in molecule" Im talking about the following reaction: http://gyazo.com/6792f21ed7326cbf496631e6cb4a066c.png I am wondering if the bond that is formed is a donor acceptor type bond?

aaronq · Answer

we'll the $H^+$ doesn't have any electrons, so thats the only possibility.

anonymous · Answer

does that mean that one bond is donor acceptor in H2O?

aaronq · Answer

in terms of the reaction you posted yes. but H2O can also form from $O_2$ and $H_2$

anonymous · Answer

not just in terms of the reaction, also in real life all water molecules contain one normal covalent bond and one donor acceptor coordinate bond, am I right aaronq?

aaronq · Answer

to be honest, i don't know.

aaronq · Answer

we categorize bonds in terms of the energy needed to break them, so if dative bonds are largely different (energetically) from covalent bonds, maybe we can test it.

anonymous · Answer

thanks for the help. I think its not really necessary to know this, cause Ive asked so many people and noone knows the answer to the question. This probably means its not important.

aaronq · Answer

Yeah, it really doesn't make a difference. I mean, we made up the "bond" concept. In reality, none of this exists, it's just what we use to explain things.

aaronq · Answer

no problem though

anonymous · Answer

ok thank you :) i will just skip this for now and maybe later if I reach college ill ask it Thanks!

aaronq · Answer

okay, good luck !