Conservation of Orbital Symmetry

Conservation of Orbital Symmetry Definition:

During a reaction, the requirement that the phases of the frontier MOs must be
aligned.

Conservation of Orbital Symmetry Explained:

A required transformation of molecular orbitals that follow reaction paths continually along a path where the symmetry of the orbitals remains unchanged. Understanding the orbital symmetry enables us to determine the chemical properties of certain elements and or molecules.

The 5 fundamental Elements of symmetry

  • Symmetry Axis: an axis where rotation in 360 results in the formation that distinguishes itself from others
  • Plane symmetry: A plane reflection where the original molecule is copied and is identical
  • Center of symmetry: A molecule has a center of symmetry when within a molecule the atoms at the center have a diametrically opposite atom.
  • Rotation-reflection axis: When a rotation in 360 happens an equal and identical rotation is also taking place in the plane
  • Identity (Abbreviated as “E”): shows how in molecules there is asymmetry with no charge, all molecules have them.