Meaning- "Sigma bonds can occur between any kind of atomic orbitals; the only requirement is that the atomic orbital overlap happens directly between the nuclei of atoms."?

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Answer 1 · 2017-06-12T15:59:45

It is saying that the bonding electrons must be directly between the nuclei of the bonding atoms.

Sigma (σ) bonds are formed by head-on overlapping of atomic orbitals.

This puts most of the electron density along the internuclear axis between the two nuclei.

Here are some examples of σ bonds,

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Hydrogen has an $"s-s"$ σ bond, hydrogen fluoride has an $"s-p"$ σ bond, and fluorine has a $"p-p"$ σ bond.

Ethane
(From Google Sites)

Ethane has an $"sp"^3"-sp"^3color(white)(l) "C-C"$ σ bond and $"sp"^3"-s C-H"$ σ bonds.

You can also have $"p-d"$ and $"d-d"$ σ bonds.

d sigma
(Adapted from Boundless)

In all of these σ bonds, the bonding electrons are on the internuclear axis between the two nuclei.