Chapter 10 Linear Combinations of Atomic Orbitals Molecular orbital theory 10 3 Linear combinations of atomic orbitals Molecular orbital a one electron wavefunction for an electron that spreads throughout the molecule If there are several possible outcomes of an observation then we add together the wavefunctions that represent each outcome Linear combination of atomic orbitals from a sum of two one electron wavefunctions LCAO the wavefunction resulting o Electron a Bonding orbitals Orbital an orbital that resembles the s orbital when viewed along the axis an electron that occupies a orbital The bonding effect of an electron that occupies a molecular orbital is ascribed to its accumulation in the internuclear region as a result of the constructive interference of the contributing atomic orbitals strength of a bond between two atoms a molecular orbital that if occupied contributes to the Bonding orbital b Antibonding orbitals Nodal plane a plane on which the wavefunction passes through zero o Results in the higher energy of antibonding orbitals an orbital that if occupied decreases the strength of a Antibonding orbital bond between two atoms c Inversion symmetry Gerade symmetry the behavior of the wavefunction when it is inverted Inversion symmetry through the center of the molecule when if you consider any point of the 1 orbital and then project it through the center of the molecule and out an equal distance on the other side you arrive at an identical value of the wavefunction not applicable to heteronuclear molecules Ungerade symmetry