Chemistry: what are degenerate orbitals?
Tutoring chemistry, you sometimes cover bonding. The tutor defines degenerate orbitals.
Degenerate: being two separate objects with a single, identical value.
The 1s orbitals of two separate hydrogen atoms are degenerate because, isolated from each other, they share a single, identical energy level.
When the two hydrogen atoms bond together, their separate 1s orbitals merge into two hybrids, one of high energy, the other low. There are still two orbitals, but each of unique energy level, so the degeneracy is erased.
Such is how I understand degenerate orbitals from the reading:)
Source:
Mortimer, Charles E. Chemistry, 6th ed. Belmont: Wadsworth, 1986.
Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.
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