Which outcome results when antibonding molecular orbitals are selectively populated in a diatomic molecule?

💡 Explanation

When antibonding orbitals are occupied, electron density shifts away from the internuclear region which reduces net attraction because electrons in antibonding orbitals counteract the stabilization from bonding orbitals, leading to a lower bond order. Therefore reduced bond order and weakened attraction occur, rather than increased bond strength or enhanced polarity which depend on increased bonding interactions or electronegativity variance.

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