To determine the number of antibonding orbitals on an atom, one must understand that antibonding orbitals are a concept relevant to molecular orbital (MO) theory rather than isolated atoms. In MO theory, two atomic orbitals combine to form one bonding orbital and one antibonding orbital. Therefore, the number of antibonding orbitals is directly linked to the number of bonding interactions in a molecule, not the atom itself. Drawing molecular orbital diagrams is essential for visualizing these interactions.
PREREQUISITESChemistry students, molecular physicists, and anyone interested in understanding molecular bonding and orbital interactions.