I know it’s like another theory as opposed to the localized electron model but I don’t really understand the whole bonding and antibonding principles and YouTube videos aren’t helping lol
I'm hoping a kind soul can provide advice for my high school student taking Chemistry. She's trying to better understand Molecular Orbital Theory. Can anyone explain it?
Hey guys.
I'm studying the molecular orbital theory and found some missing information while solving.
If we are asked about the MO of a polyatomic orbital, BeF2 for example, how can I know the order of the MO formed between the atomic orbitals, how can I know what atomic orbitals do bond together. Thank you
At the moment I'm learning about molecular orbital diagrams for homonuclear molecules, namely: B2, C2, N2, O2, F2, and Ne2. I understand that the energy of the 2p sigma bond is at a higher level for B2, C2, and N2, leading to the 2p sigma bond and the 2p pi bond switching places in the MO diagram (with 2p pi bond appearing under 2p sigma bond) for B, C, and N but not for O, F, or Ne. My lectures state that this is due to s and p mixing and my textbook states that it is due to electron repulsion from the 2s sigma bond's electrons towards the electrons added to the 2p sigma bond. Are these repulsions occurring because the s and p orbitals are mixing? Are these orbitals now suddenly hybrid sp orbitals? I'm having a hard time seeing the logic here. Thanks for the help!
I’m having trouble identifying which molecular orbitals of a pi system in Pericyclical Reactions are bonding, nonbonding and antibonding, can anyone please explain this concept to me?
I'm a freshman, currently taking up chem. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head on the ideas on these theories. Can anyone care to explain it to me? I'll be a great help for me.
Maybe it’s because it isn’t found in nature since He is already stable.... but doesn’t that mean you can make [He2]2+ in a lab and pair it with a 2- ion/molecule to make it stable?
So I’m using symmetry.Jacob to get my reducible character tables for a specific point group of a molecule. What I can’t fully comprehend is how to get a none reducible form of that matrix. Any shortcut or advice on how to approach these types of problems. Or maybe a good website/video that can help me understand it better? Thank you
I've recently been getting back into studying Chemistry and I'm a tad confused when it comes to Molecular Orbitals Theory.
I think I understand the basic concept: atomic Orbitals are wave functions which merge constructively/destructively to form molecular orbitals.
And I can pictures this easily when they discuss H and He since they only deal with the 1S orbital.
But I'm getting a tad confused when it involves atoms with more occupied atomic Orbitals.
When two separate atoms bond do ALL the atomic orbitals form molecular orbitals? Unlike VBT were it just the valence orbitals overlapping.
For example when F. It has the electron configuration 1s2, 2s2 2p5.
So when F forms F2 does each atoms 1S, 2S, 2px, 2py form molecular orbitals as well as their half filled 2pz orbitals?
Hi all, I kind of understand but don't really understand molecular orbital theory. I understand that when atomic orbitals overlap head on, they form sigma bonds. But when molecular orbitals overlap head on, their form bonding and antibonding orbitals. What I am having trouble is telling the difference/ visualising the difference between atomic orbital overlapping and molecular orbital overlapping. So when atomic orbitals overlap, within the sigma bond orbital, do they split into two, ie bonding and antibonding orbitals??
Also, how does waves explain the molecular orbital theory. I don't understand how waves relate to the molecular orbital theory. Thank you in advance :)))
So I am trying to learn O-chem, and I do not understand what these theories are and what the differences/ similarity between the two.
Hi! I'm doing some inorganic chem homework and I drew the molecular orbital diagrams for a few molecules and now I have to assign and draw the HOMO and LUMO. Does the HOMO have to be the highest totally occupied orbital or can it just be partially filled? Does the LUMO have to be totally unoccupied or can it just be partially unoccupied? Thanks in advance!
Does it apply to all molecules or does it only apply to diatomic gasses. Thanks!
Hello! I'm an undergraduate chemistry major, and have just completed all of the introductory courses in the major. I've always found that my grasp on MO theory is minimal at best, so this summer I wanted to read a textbook that delves into it. Any recommendations?
Hello,
I understand parts of molecular orbital theory, but I feel that I'm missing something that would unify the concepts. I realize that molecular orbital theory is discussed in detail during physical chemistry but I need some resources discussing it from the vantage point of elementary organic chemistry. I would appreciate links to videos, books and websites.
Thank You!
TL;DR, first semester chemistry, and I can't understand this.
I understand that O.E=(Bonding electron number-antibonding electron number)/2
The problem I am currently having is that I don't understand how to use this formula. To be more precise, I also don't fully understand the molecular orbital theory itself.
I apologize for the basic question but unless I understand the basics, I won't be able to learn the more complicated stuff.
I also apologize for my poor grammar.
Also, just in case, this is NOT because of homework. I just want to understand this. Here because of r/askscience bot.
Hello r/chemhelp!
I would really appreciate it if someone could explain to me what exactly the molecular orbital theory is in simple terms. I've been trying and trying to grasp the concept, but it still doesn't make any sense to me. Also, how does the diagram represent the MO theory? Like, how can an orbital be bonding and antibonding at the same time? And bonding basically means there are enough electrons (large electron density) between two orbitals for them to bond? Thank you so much everyone :( !!
I am having trouble understanding molecular orbital theory. The antibonding and bonding orbitals as well as pi bonds and sigma bonds keep stumping me in lecture. I would very much appreciate it if someone could provide some insight into understanding this concept! :)
I have a quick question regarding mixing diagrams for MOT. I know for homonuclear diatomic molecules, the orbitals (1s, 2s, 2p, etc.) are at the same energy level ; however, for a heternuclear diatomic molecule (e.g. BeN) , these same orbitals are at different energy levels. How can I tell which orbital is placed above the other?
In my organic book, it has only 2 pages talking about MO theory. I know it is important to understand and know this topic, but what really do I need to know in specific for organic? Orbitals and electron config have been the majority of my 2 chem classes so far. Recently, I taught myself hybridization of orbitals and how to identify the types in a structure.
I know when drawing resonance structures you have to keep things in mind, such as the type of hybridization, bonds, etc.- where would the concepts of MO fit into this? I get phrases such as Molecular Orbitals or Atomic Orbitals, which is confusing because the only orbitals I think of are the ones we've been taught so far- like s or p orbitals and their energy levels. Calculating formal charge is straightforward and I assume will be useful.
I think what's confusing with resonance structures is making sense of the whole thing. So you draw maybe 3 different structures to get a final and most "stable" structure, but so many questions come to mind like: how can a molecule be represented in 3 or more ways all at once?
Clarification on the idea of resonance and MO and some tips on getting good with resonance and what to know for MO theory, is all appreciated.
EDIT: This is a bit off topic, and if you can briefly answer this I'd appreciate it: If I draw a structure for methane, I can tell the molecule is nonpolar. I remember this from gen chem, but now how do I identify what *bonds* are polar/nonpolar in the structure? I do know it has somewhat to do with partial positive/negative charges cancelling out.
Title is probably poorly worded, so I'll explain. Whenever I ask a teacher why the electron orbitals take on the shape they do, they simply tell me, "Because the equation says so". But in real life, I want to know why the electron fills up that probability cloud in those specific shapes. A typical conversation would go as follows.
Me: "Why are there nodes as you increase priniciple quantum number?"
Teacher: "Because Schrodinger's equation says so. The math works."
But physically, why does the electron want to do this? I know the math equation for a tennis ball falling to the ground, but when someone asks me why it does that, I say there is a fundamental force called gravity which attracts the tennis ball and Earth towards each other. The gravity equation simply describes the process.
So if Schrodinger's equation describes the wave function (that's the shape of the cloud, right?), why does the electron actually do this? Is there a fundamental force or combination of forces controlling its location? Where did this equation originate, or what's the "proof" of the equation? I probably won't understand it since I've only had 1 year of calculus, but I'm curious to see if someone can give me a more in depth answer.
edit: Thanks a ton for the answers. I'm pretty sure I started off way in over my head, but there were many explanations from different points of view that helped paint the picture. And we're only 3 hours in, there's probably more answers to come. I think I'll be changing my schedule to fit in philosophy courses to go along with my freshmen engineering ones...
Eli5 orbital molecular theory and where in the world the pairing and antipairing orbitals are formed, meaning as on what plane.
Does anybody know the answer to question e, im thinking it is an overlap of pz and p, but i cant seem to justify my reasoning. Could anybody explain why which answer is right, and why the rest are wrong?
https://preview.redd.it/94tzbcviqfa21.jpg?width=540&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b58d11cfc546bff03ff6dbe0980e7d659e8a4fe7
I know it’s like another theory as opposed to the localized electron model but I don’t really understand the whole bonding and antibonding principles and YouTube videos aren’t helping lol
