sign (phase) and direction of orientation of amplitude of orbital wave function in space (Fig. . ). Positive and negative sign on boundary surface diagrams in the Fig.
. show the sign (phase) of orbital wave function and are not related to charge. Orbitals forming bond should have same sign (phase) and orientation in space. This is called positive overlap.
Various overlaps of s and p orbitals are depicted in Fig. . . The criterion of overlap, as the main factor for the formation of covalent bonds applies uniformly to the homonuclear/heteronuclear diatomic molecules and polyatomic molecules.
We know that the shapes of CH , NH , and H O molecules are tetrahedral, pyramidal and bent respectively. It would be therefore interesting to use VB theory to find out if these geometrical shapes can be explained in terms of the orbital overlaps. Let us first consider the CH (methane) molecule. The electronic configuration of carbon in its ground state is [He] s p which in the excited state becomes [He] s p x p y p z .
The energy required for this excitation is compensated by the release of energy due to overlap between the orbitals of carbon and the Fig. . Positive, negative and zero overlaps of s and p atomic orbitals hydrogen. The four atomic orbitals of carbon, each with an unpaired electron can overlap with the s orbitals of the four H atoms which are also singly occupied.
This will result in the formation of four C-H bonds. It will, however, be observed that while the three p orbitals of carbon are at ° to one another, the HCH angle for these will also be ° . That is three C-H bonds will be oriented at ° to one another. The s orbital of carbon and the s orbital of H are spherically symmetrical and they can overlap in any direction.
Therefore the direction of the fourth C-H bond cannot be ascertained. This description does not fit in