Question

Gerade orbitals in s-p combination

Answer 1

I have a book and it says that in the sigma overlap of the orbitals(s and p atomic orbitals) we have gerade molecular orbital formed. I don't understand how is it gerade.I get it to be ungerade but that's not correct.
@kainui

Answer 2

@parthkohli

Answer 3

A sigma bond formed by two s-orbitals is gerade and a sigma bond formed by two p-orbitals is gerade, but a sigma bond formed from s-p overlap is not even gerade or ungerade since there's no center of inversion.

for instance here in the s-s sigma molecular orbital, there is a center of inversion. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obaUA1fcnqc/UCKqNcxJ8zI/AAAAAAAAA9s/g5BC69FHJZc/s1600/htfhft.png

There's no such point in an s-p sigma molecular orbital.

Answer 4

Can we define gerade and ungerade orbitals for only smmetric orbitals?

Answer 5

http://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/42877/how-to-determine-gerade-ungerade-symmetry-of-a-mo-orbital
Can you pls see this ?
I have same book which is being possessed by the person in this link.
Furthermore, he got the bonding and antibonding orbitals (sp) to be gearde

Answer 6

I said exactly what everyone else is saying. It's not u or g.

Answer 7

Ohh..
The author might be wrong then in judging them as g or u!

Answer 8

Ty @kainui