Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)

Definition

The LUMO is the lowest energy molecular orbital that does not contain electrons but can accept them during chemical reactions or excitations. It plays a crucial role in determining the reactivity and properties of molecules, especially in conjugated systems analyzed by ultraviolet spectroscopy.

Related terms

Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO): The HOMO is the highest energy molecular orbital that contains electrons before an excitation event occurs.

Conjugation: Conjugation refers to the overlap of p-orbitals across adjacent atoms in a molecule, leading to delocalized π electron systems that affect a molecule's color and reactivity.

Ultraviolet: Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy - UV-Vis Spectroscopy is an analytical technique used to measure how much UV/visible light a substance absorbs, providing information about electronic transitions such as those between HOMO and LUMO levels