bonding orbital
bonding orbital
[′bän·diŋ ′ȯr·bəd·əl] (physical chemistry)
A molecular orbital formed by a bonding electron whose energy decreases as the nuclei are brought closer together, resulting in a net attraction and chemical bonding.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.