Bonding MO

Definition

A bonding MO is formed when atomic orbitals overlap constructively, leading to a decrease in energy and an increase in stability of the system. It allows electrons to be shared between atoms, facilitating chemical bonding.

Related terms

Antibonding Molecular Orbital: An antibonding MO is formed by the destructive interference of atomic orbitals, resulting in increased energy and decreased stability.

Sigma Bond (σ bond): A sigma bond is a type of covalent bond formed by the head-on overlapping of atomic orbitals along the axis connecting two nuclei.

Pi Bond (π bond): A pi bond is a type of covalent bond formed by the side-to-side overlap of two atomic orbitals above and below the plane of the participating atoms