Orbital symmetry

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-008299",
  "term": "Orbital symmetry",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A property of molecular orbitals describing their behavior under symmetry operations of the molecule, such as reflection or rotation. The conservation of orbital symmetry, as described by the Woodward-Hoffmann rules, dictates that the symmetry of reactant orbitals must be preserved as they are transformed into product orbitals during a concerted reaction. Reactions that maintain this symmetry are termed 'allowed', while those that do not are 'forbidden' and have much higher activation energies.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "bond orbital",
    "conservation of orbital symmetry",
    "cycloaddition",
    "molecular orbital",
    "pericyclic reaction",
    "σ, π"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1147 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/orbital-symmetry/"
}