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HOMO and LUMO

Leroy
in Applied Chemistry

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I was wondering why two substances can either react with one other when one is in the LUMO state and the other in the HOMO state.

 

Why can't a LUMO react with another LUMO if there are no hinderances or a HOMO/HOMO reaction?

  • Author

probably should have put this in quantum and theoretical chemistry..

 

sorry

The reaction of alkenes with H-X, where the HOMO is the pi MO of the alkene and the LUMO is the H-X.

Well, think about it. Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital with another unoccupied molecular orbital, no covalent bonding can take place.

Indeed. Just remember that the outermost electrons of one atom (HOMO) will bond with the lowest unoccupied shell (LUMO) on the other atom.

 

LUMO can't bond with LUMO because LUMO means that the orbital is unoccupied. Thus, there are no electrons to bond!

 

HOMO won't bond with HOMO because the orbital is already occupied.

  • Author

right... i should have thought about it like that as wel...

 

dumbass me

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