Symmetry aspects of chemical bonding

Abstract

This chapter provides an introduction to symmetry aspects of molecular bonding, particularly to the sets of orbitals that can combine to form a molecular orbital diagram. It focuses on the use of symmetry in describing and depicting the chemical bonding and electronic energy levels within molecules. It also mentions the molecular orbital description of chemical bonding, wherein the molecular wave function establishes energy levels and acquire symmetry properties that relate to the point group of the molecule. The chapter emphasizes how each wave function must have a symmetry corresponding to one of the irreducible representations. It explains that wave functions are constructed from linear combinations of the constituent atomic orbitals.