Answer to Question #83955 in Inorganic Chemistry for Rrrrrr

Question

5 differences between molecular orbitals and atomic orbitals

Answer 1

Answer

1. Atomic orbital is the region having the highest probability of finding an electron in an ATOM.

Molecular orbital is the region having the highest probability of finding an electron of a MOLECULE.

2. Atomic orbital is formed by the electron cloud around the atom.

Molecular orbital is formed by the fusion of atomic orbitals that have nearly the same energy.

3. The shape of atomic orbital is determined by the type of the atomic orbital (s, p, d, f).

The shape of molecular orbital is determined by the shapes of atomic orbitals that make the molecule.

4. Shrodinger equation is used to describe atomic orbital.

Linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) is used to describe molecular orbital.

5. Atomic orbital is monocentric as it is found around a single nucleus.

Molecular orbital is polycentric as it is found around different nuclei.

6. In atomic orbital single nucleus affects the electron cloud.

In molecular orbital two or more nuclei affect the electron cloud.