Bonding orbitals are molecular orbitals that lower the energy of a molecule when electrons occupy them. They result from the constructive interference of atomic orbitals.
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Bonding orbitals have lower energy than the original atomic orbitals that combine to form them.
When a bonding orbital is filled with electrons, it stabilizes the molecule.
Bonding orbitals are typically formed from in-phase combinations of atomic wave functions.
The presence of bonding orbitals leads to an increase in electron density between nuclei.
Bonding orbitals are often denoted by the Greek letter sigma ($\sigma$) or pi ($\pi$), depending on the type of bond they form.
Review Questions
What is the primary effect of electrons occupying a bonding orbital?
How do bonding orbitals affect the energy and stability of a molecule?
What are common notations used for different types of bonding orbitals?
Related terms
Anti-Bonding Orbitals: Molecular orbitals that increase the energy of a molecule when occupied by electrons. They result from destructive interference between atomic orbitals.
A type of covalent bond where electron density is concentrated along the axis connecting two nuclei, usually formed by head-on overlapping atomic orbitals.
Pi Bond: A type of covalent bond where electron density is concentrated above and below the plane of the nuclei, usually formed by side-on overlapping p-orbitals.