Explain how molecular orbitals are arranged for molecules with atomic numbers greater than 7 (e.g., O₂ and F₂). How does this differ from the molecular orbital arrangement in molec... Explain how molecular orbitals are arranged for molecules with atomic numbers greater than 7 (e.g., O₂ and F₂). How does this differ from the molecular orbital arrangement in molecules like N₂?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking for an explanation of the arrangement of molecular orbitals in diatomic molecules with atomic numbers greater than 7, specifically O₂ and F₂, and how this arrangement differs in diatomic molecules like N₂.

Answer

For O₂ and F₂, σ(2p_z) is lower than π(2p_x) and π(2p_y); this order is reversed in N₂ due to sp mixing.

Molecules with atomic numbers greater than 7 such as O₂ and F₂ have molecular orbitals where the σ(2p_z) orbital is lower in energy than the π(2p_x) and π(2p_y) orbitals. This differs from elements like N₂, where π(2p_x) and π(2p_y) are lower in energy than σ(2p_z) due to sp mixing.

Answer for screen readers

Molecules with atomic numbers greater than 7 such as O₂ and F₂ have molecular orbitals where the σ(2p_z) orbital is lower in energy than the π(2p_x) and π(2p_y) orbitals. This differs from elements like N₂, where π(2p_x) and π(2p_y) are lower in energy than σ(2p_z) due to sp mixing.

More Information

The difference in molecular orbital energy order between N₂ and molecules like O₂ and F₂ arises from reduced energy overlap and mixing between the 2s and 2p orbitals in O₂ and F₂.

Tips

A common mistake is to apply the same molecular orbital energy ordering across the entire second period without accounting for the differences in energies due to sp mixing.

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