Do sigma bonds overlap?

1 Answer
Dylan K.
Dec 5, 2016

Sigma bonds overlap in bonding orbitals and do not overlap in antibonding orbitals, but are formed by the overlap of atomic orbitals.

Explanation:

Consider the molecular orbital manifold shown below:enter image source here

Recall that antibonding orbitals are formed by destructive combination and that bonding orbitals are formed by constructive combination.

For antibonding orbitals, a node forms at the zero and they do not overlap.

As show below:
enter image source here

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