Chapter 11, Problem 11.48P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The molecular orbital diagrams for ${\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$, ${\text{O}}_2^{2-}$, ${\text{O}}_2^{-}$ and ${\text{O}}_2^{+}$ are to be drawn. Also, the species are to be ranked in the order of increasing bond length and the number of unpaired electrons is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

A molecular orbital diagram is a tool that is used to describe the chemical bonding formed between different molecules. It is used to predict the bond strength and the electronic transitions that a molecule can undergo.

The formula to calculate the bond order of any species is as follows:

  $\text{Bond}\text{order}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\begin{array}{l}\text{number}\text{of}\text{electrons}\text{in}\text{bonding}\text{orbitals}-\\ \text{number}\text{of}\text{electrons}\text{in}\text{antibonding}\text{orbitals}\end{array}\right)$        (1)