HOMO
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemistry
| Stands for | Highest occupied molecular orbital |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
HOMO stands for Highest occupied molecular orbital, a chemistry abbreviation.
The highest-energy molecular orbital that contains electrons. Together with the LUMO it governs how a molecule reacts and absorbs light: the HOMO-LUMO gap sets the color of dyes and the band gap of organic semiconductors used in OLED displays and solar cells.
Example: Electron-donating groups raise the HOMO, making the molecule easier to oxidize.
Usage notes
Kenichi Fukui's frontier molecular orbital theory, built around the HOMO and LUMO, earned him a share of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Roald Hoffmann. In many reactions electrons flow from the HOMO of the nucleophile into the LUMO of the electrophile.
Related abbreviations
More chemistry abbreviations
- H2O2 – Hydrogen peroxide
- H2SO4 – Sulfuric acid
- HCFC – Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
- HCl – Hydrochloric acid
- HDPE – High-density polyethylene
- HFC – Hydrofluorocarbon
- HPLC – High-performance liquid chromatography
- ICP-MS – Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
- IPA – Isopropyl alcohol
- IR – Infrared spectroscopy
- IUPAC – International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
- LC-MS – Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry