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Which mechanism causes increased single bond rotational freedom between carbon atoms in ethane following ultraviolet (UV) photon absorption?

A)Antibonding molecular orbital occupation
B)Increased nuclear spin alignment
C)Sigma (σ) bond order increase
D)Hybridization state stabilization effect

💡 Explanation

Occupation of antibonding molecular orbitals weakens the sigma (σ) bond because electron density reduces between the carbon nuclei, therefore, favoring bond rotation rather than restricted torsion. Increased freedom is due to weakened bonding, rather than increased attraction or stabilization.

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