 ##  [Molecular Orbital Theory](/molecular-orbital-theory) 

  ##  [Molecular Orbital Theory](https://natural.quantumdictionary.io/molecular-orbital-theory-0) 

  

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**Natural &amp; Formal Sciences Dictionary**

 







 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Definition

A quantum‑mechanical framework in which electrons are described by molecular orbitals that extend over the entire molecule, formed as linear combinations of atomic orbitals; electronic states are built from occupancies of these delocalized orbitals.