19 Dec 2022

*UV-Vis Spectroscopy involves transition of electrons,so we are studying types of electronic transitions.

Explaining Molecular Orbitals

What are Molecular Orbitals?

The space in a molecule in which the probability of finding an electron is maximum can be calculated using the molecular orbital function. Molecular orbitals are basically mathematical functions that describe the wave nature of electrons in a given molecule.

These orbitals can be constructed via the combination of hybridized orbitals or atomic orbitals from each atom belonging to the specific molecule. Molecular orbitals provide a great model via the molecular orbital theory to demonstrate the bonding of molecules.

Types of Molecular Orbitals

According to the molecular orbital theory, there exist three primary types of molecular orbitals that are formed from the linear combination of atomic orbitals. These orbitals are detailed below.

Bonding MOs:

• Bonding interactions between atomic orbitals are constructive (in-phase) interactions.
• Bonding MOs are lower in energy than the atomic orbitals that combine to produce them.

Antibonding MOs:

• Antibonding interactions between atomic orbitals are destructive (out-of-phase) interactions, with a nodal plane where the wavefunction of the antibonding orbital is zero between the two interacting atoms
• Antibonding MOs are higher in energy than the atomic orbitals that combine to produce them.

Nonbonding MOs:

• Nonbonding MOs are the result of no interaction between atomic orbitals because of lack of compatible symmetries.
• Nonbonding MOs will have the same energy as the atomic orbitals of one of the atoms in the molecule.