The given conditions should be satisfied by atomic orbitals to form molecular orbitals:
(a) The combining atomic orbitals must have the same or nearly the same energy. This means that in a homonuclear molecule, the \(1s-atomic\) orbital of an atom can combine with the \(1s-atomic\) orbital of another atom, and not with the \(2s-orbital\).
(b) The combining atomic orbitals must have proper orientations to ensure that the overlap is maximum.
(c) The extent of overlapping should be large.
The total number of molecular orbitals formed from 2s and 2p atomic orbitals of a diatomic molecule is _________.
Such a group of atoms is called a molecule. Obviously, there must be some force that holds these constituent atoms together in the molecules. The attractive force which holds various constituents (atoms, ions, etc.) together in different chemical species is called a chemical bond.
There are 4 types of chemical bonds which are formed by atoms or molecules to yield compounds.