adjective
- relating to or denoting a molecular orbital that has higher energy than the atomic orbitals from which it is formed and weakens the bond between atoms
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- An antibonding orbital is created when atomic orbitals combine out of phase.
- Electrons in antibonding orbitals increase the overall energy of the molecule.
- The antibonding molecular orbital has a node between the two nuclei.
- When antibonding electrons outnumber bonding electrons, the molecule is unstable.
- Filling antibonding orbitals weakens the chemical bond between atoms.