The important differences between atomic and molecular orbitals are:
Differences between Atomic and Molecular Orbitals
| Atomic orbital | Molecular orbital |
| An electron in atomic orbital isunder the influence of only one positive nucleus of the atom | An electron in molecular orbital is under the influence of two or more nuclei depending upon the number of atoms present in the molecule |
| Atomic orbitals are inherent property of an atom | Molecular orbitals are formed by the combination of atomic orbitals |
| They have simple shapes | They have complex shapes |
