Chemistry 0330

Problem Set 8 Solutions

1. The molecular orbital energy level diagrams for these molecules are

(a) Bond order

______ "*s 1 (1 0) = 1
2 2
__ _____ " s

+ +
H H2 H

________ "*s 1 (2 0) = 1
2
_____ " s

H H2 H

______ "*s 1 (2 1) = 1
2 2
_____ " s

- -
H H2 H

_____ "*s 1 (2 2) = 0
2
_____ " s

- -2 -
H H2 H

-2
Although H2 is the most stable, all of these form stable molecules except H2 .

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1.(b)
*
______ " p
*
_____ " x ______ " *
y
_____ " x ____ "
y
_____ " p bond order

_____ "*s = 12 (8 4) = 2
_____ " s

- -2 -
N N2 N
___________________________________________________
*
______ " p
*
_____ " x ____ " *
y
_____ " x ____ "
y
_____ " p bond order

_____ "*s = 12 (8 6) = 1
_____ " s

- -2 -
O O2 O
___________________________________________________
*
____ " p
*
_____ " x _____ " *
y
_____ " x ____ "
y
_____ " p bond order

! _____ "*s = 12 (8 8) = 0
_____ " s
_ -2 _
F F2 F

-2 -2 -2
meaning that N2 and O2 are stable, but F2 is not. (You could also have done this
problem by noticing that these species are isoelectronic to O2, F2, and Ne2, in that order
and only the first two of these are stable.)
1.(c)
*
______ " p
*
______ " x ______ " *
y
___ ______ " p ___
______ " x ______ "
y
bond order

_____ "*s = 12 (2 2) = 0
_____ " s

Be Be2 Be
___________________________________________________

*
______ " p
*
_____ " x ____ " *
y
__ _______ " p __
____ " x ___ "
y
bond order

_____ "*s = 12 (4 2) = 1
_____ " s

B B2 B
___________________________________________________

-2
Ne2 is has the same diagram as F2 shown in (b) bond order = 12 (8 8) = 0

Hence B2 is stable, but Be2 and Ne2 are not.

!
2. You can use your results from problem 1!

+
(a) H2 H2 bond order 1 12 so bond weakens

+
(b) B2 B2 bond order 1 12 so bond weakens
 -2 -
(c) C2 C2 bond order 3 2 12 so bond weakens
-2
(since C2 is isolectronic with (triple-bonded) N2)

+
(d) OF OF bond order 1 12 2 so bond strengthens

*
______ " p
*
_____ " x _____ " *
y
_____ " x ____ "
y
_____ " p bond order

_____ "*s = 12 (8 5) = 1 12
_____ " s

O OF F

*
______ " p
*
______ " x _____ " *
y
_____ " x ____ "
y
_____ " p bond order

_____ "*s = 12 (8 4) = 2
_____ " s

+ +
O OF F

Taking away antibonding electrons makes the bond strengthen.

+
Notice that OF is isoelectronic with (double-bonded) O2.

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