(N/A) According to the Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals $(LCAO)$ method,two $2p_{z}$ atomic orbitals overlap to form two molecular orbitals ($MO$s): a bonding molecular orbital $(BMO)$ and an antibonding molecular orbital $(ABMO)$.
$1$. Energy Level Diagram:
- The $2p_{z}$ atomic orbitals $(AO)$ combine to form a lower energy bonding orbital $\sigma 2p_{z}$ and a higher energy antibonding orbital $\sigma^{*} 2p_{z}$.
- Energy order: $\sigma 2p_{z} < 2p_{z} < \sigma^{*} 2p_{z}$.
$2$. Orbital Diagrams:
- Bonding $(\sigma 2p_{z})$: Formed by constructive interference (addition) of wave functions,resulting in increased electron density between the nuclei.
- Antibonding $(\sigma^{*} 2p_{z})$: Formed by destructive interference (subtraction) of wave functions,resulting in a nodal plane between the nuclei where electron density is zero.