What are the differences between bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals?
Posted February 22, 2024
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 |
Bonding and antibonding orbitals
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