What is the difference in spatial distribution between electrons ...

Question

What is the difference in spatial distribution between electrons 
in a bonding MO and electrons in an antibonding MO?

Accepted Answer

Hello everyone today. We have the following problem which of the following describes the difference in electron distribution between a bonding molecular orbital and an anti bonding molecular orbital. So using the answer choice says below the answer choice a represents the answer. In a bonding molecular orbital, the electrons occupy most of the region between the two nuclei forming the bonds while in an anti bonding molecular orbital. The electrons cannot occupy the region between the two nuclei. Thus bonds do not form. So for an example, we have the molecular orbital for an S orbital. So we have one orbital here, another S orbital here. And so what happens is that we get to different outcomes from this? We have an anti bonding and a bonding. So in a bonding we're going to have these two elements or these two orbital's come together and there's going to be overlap with their nuclei and this is going to be bonding. On the other hand, we're going to have what's known as anti bonding and we're going to have what's known as a node right here in the center that prevents these, that prevents the overlap of the nuclei and thus we do not have bonding present. So as we said before, answer choice A is going to be our answer and with that we've answered the question overall. I hope that this helped and until next time

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