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Molecular orbital question

 
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Dec11-04, 04:03 PM   #1
 

Molecular orbital question


How do you determine the symmetry of the orbitals and whether they overlap in a molecular orbital diagram?
 
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Dec12-04, 03:39 AM   #2
 
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Well, s orbitals are spherical, so they can overlap with any orbital (s and p, and even d). p orbitals are not spherical, so they only overlap with same face-looking orbital; for example, two p orbitals, after losing one by overlapping with s orbital, have no common symmetry other than themselves; they overlap to give a pi bond.

I know this is hard to tell without a diagram, it tells better than me.
 
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