Total Coulomb interactions between non-bonded atoms behave in general in a 'quasiadditive' fashion, not only in simple linear and branched paraffins, but also in polycyclic hydrocarbons constructed from chair and boat cyclohexane rings. Because of their relative insensitivity to structural features, they cannot be regarded as being the leading terms in the explanation of energetic effects related to structural changes. The prime factors governing molecular stabilities, as well as the explanation of the structural effects which are at their origin, are found in the behavior of the charge dependent energy contributions associated with bonded atoms, i.e., in the chemical bonds themselves.Can. J. Chem. 57, 1772 (1979). Les sommes des interactions Coulombiennes entre atomes non liCs se comportent en general de manikre "quasi additive", tout aussi bien dans les paraffines lintaires et ramifiees que dans les hydrocarbures polycycliques constitues d'anneaux cyclohexaniques en forme chaise ou bateau. En raison de leur faible sensibiliti aux modifications structurales, ces interactions ne peuvent jouer de r6le preponderant dans leur interpretation. Les principaux facteurs determinant les stabilitts moleculaires, ainsi que l'explication des effets structuraux qui sont a leur origine, se retrouvent dans le comportement des contributions tnergetiques associees aux charges des atomes lies, c'est-a-dire dans les liaisons chimiques elles-m@mes. This particular choice is not restrictive because atomization energies (AE,:';) of vibrationless mole-order. Let X be a molecular property and ~( 2 )~ cules can be derived from the corresponding standard X(l) the for ethane and enthalpies of formation AH,' (gas, 298.16 K) and methane. If X i s e x a c t l~ additive, then appropriate spectroscopic data (eq. [I]; C n i = total [21 x = (1 -m )~( 2 ) + (n -2 + zm) number of atoms in the molecule, T = 298.16 K).where X(2) -X(l) is the change in X going from + H~ -H~ -5CniRT/2 methane to ethane, i.e., the contribution of one CH, Here we investigate saturated hydrocarbons group. The meaning of eq. [2] is obvious for nonCnH2,,+, -,,, considering both simple paraffins and cyclic compounds (m = 0). or c~clohexane (m = l), six-membered cyclic compounds, including poly-which consists of n -2 + 2m = 6 CH2 groups, cyclic hydrocarbons (m = number of cycles) such as the (1 -m)X(2) term of eq. [21 cancels. Decalin is adamantane, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, iceane, etc. Atten-con~tructed from two c~clohexane units. In this case tion is focussed on energy partitioning and additivity n -2 + 2m accounts for 12 CH2 groups, but One rules involving AE, *.additional ethane X(2) contribution (i.e., that of two CH, and two H atoms) is subtracted with respect Formulation of Additivity to cyclohexane, i.e., a total of 2X(2) contributions Because of our central interest in additivity, a few with respect to noncyclic alkanes. Similar arguments preliminary remarks about its formulation are in applied to other polycyclic saturated hydrocarbons