bonding molecular orbital 

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.BT07007
The molecular orbital whose occupation by electrons increases the total bonding (usually, lowers the total energy) of a molecule. Generally, the energy level of a bonding MO lies lower than the average of the valence orbitals of the atoms constituting the molecule.
Source:
PAC, 1999, 71, 1919. (Glossary of terms used in theoretical organic chemistry) on page 1929 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'bonding molecular orbital' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.BT07007 RIS BibTex EndNote
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Last revised: February 24, 2014