pi orbital
Quick Summary
A pi orbital is a type of molecular orbital formed from the overlap of p orbitals in atoms within a molecule. These orbitals are crucial in understanding chemical bonding, particularly in molecules like benzene.12
In the context of molecular orbital theory, pi orbitals are formed from atomic orbitals that are perpendicular to the plane of the molecule. These orbitals differ from sigma orbitals in their symmetry and the number and position of nodal planes, which are areas of low electron density. The energy of a pi orbital increases with the number of nodal planes. Electrons occupying these delocalized pi orbitals contribute to the overall stability of the molecule.2
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