Question

What are some examples of bonding orbitals?

Answer 1

The `sigma_(u,2s)` (or `sigma_(2s)^"*"`) is called a 2s sigma ungerade antibonding orbital. If you invert it (flip x and y coordinates in the xy plane), the lobes have opposite charges. Ungerade means odd.

Another example is a `pi_(u,2p_(x,y))` (or `pi_(2p_(x,y))^"*"`) orbital, which is a bonding orbital.

Look at the "Antibonding sigma molecular orbital" for the `sigma_(u,2s)` and the "Bonding pi molecular orbital" for the `pi_(u,2p_(x,y))`.