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AAT Bioquest

What are the differences between bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals?

Posted February 22, 2024


Answer

Basis of differentiation

Bonding molecular orbitals

Anti-bonding molecular orbitals

Definition

Are a type of molecular orbitals involved in the generation of chemical bonds

Are orbitals containing electrons outside the region between two nuclei

Energy levels

Energy levels are comparatively lower

Energy levels are comparatively higher

Electron density

Electron density is higher

Electron density is lower

Geometry of molecule

The geometry of a molecule is depicted by its spatial arrangement 

Geometry of a molecule is not dependent on the spatial arrangement

Stability

Stability is comparatively higher

Stability is lower

Electrons

Electrons play a role in creating bonds between atoms

Electrons do not play a role in creating bonds between atoms

Asterisk

Depicted without an asterisk

Depicted with an asterisk

Overlapping atomic orbitals

Overlapping atomic orbitals combine in phase, leading to constructive interference

Overlapping atomic orbitals combine out of phase, leading to destructive interference

Additional resources

Bonding and antibonding orbitals

Nucleus

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