bonding orbital

A bonding orbital is a region where electrons are likely to be found between two atoms that are forming a chemical bond. When atoms approach each other, their atomic orbitals overlap, creating a new molecular orbital that lowers the overall energy of the system. This shared electron space stabilizes the atoms, effectively holding them together as a molecule. Think of it as a shared "electron cloud" that acts like a glue, maintaining the connection between the atoms. Bonding orbitals are fundamental to understanding how molecules form and stay together in chemistry.