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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: CrimpJiggler on October 10, 2011, 03:05:04 PM

Title: Combining atomic orbitals
Post by: CrimpJiggler on October 10, 2011, 03:05:04 PM

When 2 atoms bond, do all their atomic orbitals combine, or is it just the bonding orbitals that combine? For example when sodium and chlorine bond, do all their orbitals combine or is it just sodiums 3s orbital that combines with chlorines 3p orbital?