Chapter 9, Problem 101AP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The Lewis structure of oxygen molecule corresponds to an excited state of the oxygen molecule is to be explained using molecular orbital theory.

Concept introduction:

According to the molecular orbital theory, two atomic orbitals combine in order to form a bonding and an antibonding molecular orbital. The orbitals that lie on internuclear axis combine to form $\sigma$

(sigma) molecular orbital and the orbitals parallel to each other combine to form $\pi$ molecular orbitals.

The molecular orbital formed by the combination of $\text{1s}$ orbital forms bonding molecular orbital designated as ${\sigma }_{1s}$ and antibonding molecular orbital, ${\sigma }^{\ast }{}_{1s}$. The $\text{2}s$

orbital forms corresponding molecular orbitals.

Molecular orbital formed by the combination of $2p_x$

orbital forms a bonding molecular orbital designated as ${\sigma }_{2p_{\text{x}}}$

and an antibonding molecular orbital designated as ${\sigma }^{\ast }{}_{2p_{\text{x}}}$.

Molecular orbitals formed by combining $2p_{\text{y}}$ and $2p_{\text{z}}$

orbitals form bonding molecular orbitals designated as ${\text{π}}_{\text{2}{p}_{\text{y}}}$

and ${\text{π}}_{\text{2}{p}_{\text{z}}}$

and antibonding molecular orbitals designated as ${\text{π}}^{\ast }{}_{\text{2}{p}_{\text{y}}}$

and ${\text{π}}^{\ast }{}_{\text{2}{p}_{\text{z}}}$.

Electrons are filled in the molecular orbitals in increasing order of energy.