Themes > Science > Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry > More Information about Chemical Bonding > Chemical Bonding Index > Molecular orbital theory > Constructive/Destructive Interference


To understand how molecular orbitals are formed, it's necessary to understand how waves interact. (Remember that electrons can act as waves.)
When waves overlap, they undergo a process known as interference. If the waves line up, with crest next to crest, you get a wave with the same wavelength and frequency, but a larger amplitude. If they line up crest to trough, they end up canceling each other out.


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