Molecular Orbital Theory
What is Molecular Orbital Theory?
Molecular orbital (MO) theory describes the electronic structure of molecules by combining atomic orbitals to form molecular orbitals that are delocalised over the entire molecule. Bonding molecular orbitals have lower energy than the constituent atomic orbitals; antibonding orbitals have higher energy. Bond order = (bonding electrons − antibonding electrons)/2. MO theory explains the paramagnetism of O₂ and other properties not explained by valence bond theory.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Molecular orbital (MO) theory describes the electronic structure of molecules by combining atomic orbitals to form molecular orbitals that are delocalised over the entire molecule. Bonding molecular orbitals have lower energy than the constituent atomic orbitals; antibonding orbitals have higher energy. Bond order = (bonding electrons − antibonding electrons)/2. MO theory explains the paramagnetism of O₂ and other properties not explained by valence bond theory.