Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A sigma bond is a type of covalent bond that forms when two atomic orbitals overlap along the axis connecting the two bonding nuclei.
Related terms
Covalent Bond: A chemical bond formed by the sharing of one or more electrons, especially pairs of electrons, between atoms.
Atomic Orbital: A region in an atom where there is a high probability of finding electrons.
Molecular Orbital Theory: A method for determining molecular structure in which electrons are not assigned to individual bonds between atoms, but are treated as moving under the influence of the nuclei in the whole molecule.