Question

Which statement is NOT true of molecular orbitals: Select one

Answer 1

Answer:

A: Antibonding molecular orbitals are higher in energy than all of the bonding molecular orbitals.

Explanation:

Molecular  orbital theory describes covalent bonds in terms of molecular orbitals, which  result from interaction of the atomic orbitals of the bonding atoms and are associated  with the entire molecule.

A bonding molecular orbital has lower  energy and greater stability than the atomic orbitals from which it was formed. An  antibonding molecular orbital has higher energy and lower stability than the  atomic orbitals from which it was formed.

Electrons in the antibonding molecular orbital have  higher energy (and less stability) than they would have in the isolated atoms. On the  other hand, electrons in the bonding molecular orbital have less energy (and hence  greater stability) than they would have in the isolated atoms.