Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry
σ orbital (sigma orbital):
The
bonding molecular orbital
component of a
σ bond
. In this
orbital
the
electron density
is located along the
bond
axis.
A simplified representation of the σ
orbital
component of the C-F
σ bond
of
methyl
fluoride
. This is a
bonding molecular orbital
.
A simplified representation of the
σ* orbital
component of the C-F
σ bond
of
methyl
fluoride
. This is an
antibonding molecular orbital
.
Related terms:
Pi orbital
,
π orbital
,
pi bond
,
π bond
,
atomic orbital
,
s
orbital
,
p
orbital
,
p
x
orbital
,
p
y
orbital
,
p
z
orbital,
nonbonding molecular orbital
,
orbital electronegativity
Wikipedia entry
Return to glossary index