The total number of antibonding molecular orbitals formed from 2s and 2p atomic orbitals in a diatomic molecule is

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🧠 From n atomic orbitals, n molecular orbitals are formed (n/2 bonding + n/2 antibonding). Identify the antibonding MOs from 2s and 2p separately.

From two 2s orbitals (one per atom): 1 σ2s + 1 σ2s → 1 antibonding MO

From two 2p sets (3 per atom × 2 atoms = 6 AOs):
-  +  → 1 antibonding
- (×2 degenerate) + (×2 degenerate) → 2 antibonding

Total antibonding from 2p = 3 MOs

Total antibonding =

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