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molecular orbital energy-level diagram
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molecular orbital energy-level diagrams dissociation of E–N A molecular orbital energy-level diagram displaying atomic orbitals 1sA and 1sB from atoms A and B, and the one sigma bonding and two sigma antibonding molecular orbitals they form at lower and higher energy levels, respectively. Diagram comparing the hydrogen atom's energy levels using Bohr's model, the Schrodinger equation, and the Dirac equation, with horizontal lines representing quantized binding energies and labels for each energy state. A molecular orbital energy level diagram for diatomic period 2 elements, showing atomic 2s and 2p orbitals and the bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals these atoms at lower and higher energy levels, respectively. Electrons and their spins are shown as arrows.
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molecular orbital energy-level diagram

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molecular orbital energy-level diagrams
molecular orbital energy-level diagrams Figure 8: Molecular orbital energy-level diagrams for (A) beryllium hydride, BeH2, with linear shape, and (B) water, H2O, with bent shape. The molecular orbitals are labeled to reflect the atomic orbitals from which they are composed as well as their symmetry properties.

A molecular orbital energy-level diagram illustrates the relative energies of molecular orbitals within a molecule. Molecular orbital (MO) theory describes electron distribution across all nuclei in a molecule using wave functions called molecular orbitals (MOs). These MOs are formed by combining atomic orbitals (AOs) from the constituent atoms.123

When atomic orbitals combine, they can form bonding orbitals, which have lower energy and enhance stability due to constructive interference between nuclei, or antibonding orbitals, which have higher energy and destabilize the molecule due to destructive interference. The diagram arranges these MOs by energy, showing how electrons fill them according to the Pauli exclusion principle and the Aufbau principle. This model helps explain molecular properties and chemical bonding.145

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5 Britannica Sources
  1. chemical bonding - Molecular orbitals of H 2 and He 2
  2. chemical bonding - Molecular orbitals of polyatomic species
  3. chemical bonding - Comparison of the VB and MO theories
  4. molecular orbital
  5. spectroscopy - Electronic energy states

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