what does it mean by in phase and out of phase for orbitals. Is in phase means that it's bonding and out of phase is antibonding?
Perhaps this will help
http://www.mpcfaculty.net/mark_bishop/molecular_orbital_theory.htm
In the context of atomic and molecular orbitals, "in phase" and "out of phase" refer to the relative alignment of wave functions. These terms are commonly associated with the concepts of bonding and antibonding orbitals, but let's break it down further to understand them better.
When multiple atomic orbitals combine to form molecular orbitals, the wave functions of the individual orbitals overlap. The overall shape of these molecular orbitals depends on whether the wave functions are in phase or out of phase with each other.
1. In Phase: When the wave functions overlap constructively, they are said to be "in phase." This means that the positive lobes of one wave function align with the positive lobes of the other, and the same is true for the negative lobes. In-phase overlap results in the constructive interference of waves, leading to the formation of a bonding molecular orbital.
2. Out of Phase: If the wave functions overlap destructively, they are considered "out of phase." In this case, the positive lobes of one wave function align with the negative lobes of the other, and vice versa. Out-of-phase overlap leads to the destructive interference of waves, resulting in the formation of an antibonding molecular orbital.
So, to answer your question, "in phase" generally implies bonding behavior, where two orbitals combine constructively, and "out of phase" typically corresponds to antibonding behavior, where the overlap is characterized by destructive interference between the orbitals.
However, it's important to note that not all in-phase and out-of-phase combinations directly relate to bonding and antibonding orbitals. For a more comprehensive understanding, it is crucial to consider the specific molecular system and its molecular orbital diagram.