Question

Draw a properly labelled (axes and signs) diagram of the molecular orbital obtained by the combination of s-orbital with py orbital along x axis. Is this orbital bonding, antibonding or non-bonding ?

Answer 1

Answer on Question #77129, Chemistry / Inorganic Chemistry

Draw a properly labelled (axes and signs) diagram of the molecular orbital obtained by the combination of s-orbital with py orbital along x axis. Is this orbital bonding, antibonding or non-bonding?

Solution

Interaction between atomic orbitals leads to formation of bond if the orbitals:

1) Are of the same molecular symmetry

2) Can overlap well

3) Are of similar energy.

We can see from the diagram that s and $p_y$ orbitals are of wrong symmetry (there is no cylindrical symmetry of electron density along intermolecular axis x for $p_y$ orbital.) No net overlap of s and $p_y$ orbitals: constructive part=destructive part, consequently this molecular orbital is nonbounding (NBMO).

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