The molecular orbital approach and polyatomic molecules

This chapter addresses the molecular orbital approach and polyatomic molecules. The molecular orbital approach involves the identification of groups of orbitals whose symmetries allow overlap to form molecular orbitals. Molecular orbitals may be bonding, antibonding, or non-bonding relative to their component atomic orbitals. Molecular orbitals may hold one or two electrons. Moreover, molecular orbitals may link 1 to n atoms in a molecule, where n is the number of atoms in the molecule. Molecular orbital analysis and Lewis structures may lead to lone pairs but the nature of these lone pairs may differ. The chapter then looks at triatomic molecules EX2 and tetraatomic molecules EX3.