Question

Which of the following molecular orbital has 2 nodal planes?

• A. $\sigma 2s$
• B. $\pi 2p_y$
• C. ${\pi }^{\ast }2p_y$
• D. ${\sigma }^{\ast }2p_x$

Answer 1

The correct option is C ${\pi }^{\ast }2p_y$

${\pi }^{\ast }2p_y$ has 2 nodal planes because it is an antibonding molecular orbital, this antibonding orbital is formed by destructive overlap between two $p$ orbitals. So where the destructive overlap occurs 1 node is formed and another node is already present in $p$ orbital.