Abstract
Linear relationships have been established between valence force constants f (SO) in thionyl compounds X-SO-Y resp. f (SeO) in seleninyl compounds X-SeO-Y and the sum of the electronegativities of the substituents X and Y. Group electronegativities have been obtained for several substituents. It is now possible to calculate f (SO) resp. f (SeO) and related quantities (bond order, bond length) for unknown thionyl and seleninyl compounds. A participation of d orbitals of the substituents in the links to the SO resp. SeO groups has been proved for certain thionyl and seleninyl compounds.