Compare the energies of molecular orbitals of homonuclear diatomic molecules with the energies of the atomic orbitals with which they correlate.
A)Both bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals lie lower in energy than the atomic orbitals.
B)Bonding orbitals are lower and antibonding orbitals are higher in energy than the atomic orbitals.
C)Bonding orbitals are higher and antibonding orbitals are lower in energy than the atomic orbitals.
D)Both bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals are higher in energy than the atomic orbitals.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When two atomic orbitals combine to form molecular orbitals in homonuclear diatomic molecules, a bonding and an antibonding molecular orbital are formed. The bonding molecular orbital is formed by the constructive interference of the atomic orbitals, which results in a decrease in energy relative to the starting atomic orbitals. The antibonding molecular orbital is formed by the destructive interference of the atomic orbitals, which results in an increase in energy relative to the starting atomic orbitals. Therefore, the bonding molecular orbitals are lower in energy than the atomic orbitals with which they correlate, while the antibonding molecular orbitals are higher in energy than the atomic orbitals with which they correlate.

Compare the Energies of Molecular Orbitals of Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules