Wikipedia

HOMO and LUMO

Also found in: Dictionary.
(redirected from HOMO/LUMO)
Diagram of the HOMO and LUMO of a molecule. Each circle represents an electron in an orbital; when light of a high enough frequency is absorbed by an electron in the HOMO, it jumps to the LUMO.
3D model of the highest occupied molecular orbital in CO2
3D model of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital in CO2

In chemistry, HOMO and LUMO are types of molecular orbitals. The acronyms stand for highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, respectively.

HOMO–LUMO gap

The energy difference between the HOMO and LUMO is termed the HOMO–LUMO gap. HOMO and LUMO are sometimes collectively called the frontier orbitals, such as in the frontier molecular orbital theory. The difference in energy between these two frontier orbitals can be used to predict the strength and stability of transition metal complexes, as well as the colors they produce in solution.[1]

Semiconductors

The HOMO level to organic semiconductors is roughly what the maximum valence band is to inorganic semiconductors and quantum dots. The same analogy can be made between the LUMO level and the conduction band minimum.[2]

Organometallic chemistry

In organometallic chemistry, the size of the LUMO lobe can help predict where addition to pi ligands will occur.

SOMO

A SOMO is a singly occupied molecular orbital such as half-filled HOMO of a radical.[3] This abbreviation may also be extended to semi occupied molecular orbital.

Subadjacent orbitals: NHOMO and SLUMO

If existent, the molecular orbitals at one energy level below the HOMO and one energy level above the LUMO are also found to play a role in frontier molecular orbital theory. They are named NHOMO for next-to-highest occupied molecular orbital and SLUMO for second lowest unoccupied molecular orbital.[4] These are also commonly referred to as HOMO-1 and LUMO+1, respectively.

See also

References

  1. ^ Griffith, J.S. and L.E. Orgel. "Ligand Field Theory". Q. Rev. Chem. Soc. 1957, 11, 381-383
  2. ^ Bredas, J,-L. "Mind the gap!". Mater. Horiz. 2014,1, 17-19
  3. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version:  (2006–) "SOMO". doi:10.1351/goldbook.S05765
  4. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version:  (2006–) "subjacent orbital". doi:10.1351/goldbook.S06067

External links

This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia® - the free encyclopedia created and edited by its online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of Wikipedia® encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information, please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.

Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.