The important differences between s and p molecular orbitals are given below:
| σ Molecular orbitals | π Molecular orbitals |
|---|---|
| It is formed by the head-to-head overlap of atomic orbitals along internuclear axis | It is formed by sidewise overlap of atomic orbitals perpendicular to internuclear axis |
| The overlap region is maximum | The overlap region is minimum |
| The orbital is symmetrical to rotation about internuclear axis | The orbital is not symmetrical to rotation about internuclear axis |
| It leads to the formation of a strong bond | It leads to the formation of a weak bond |
