Chapter 9.3, Problem 2RC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The oxygen ( $O_2{}^{2-}$) four different bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals are given in the statement, than which orbital is occupied in HOMO orbital using the MO theory and correct occupying HOMO shell should be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Molecular orbital (MO) theory:  is a method for determining molecular structure in which electrons are not assigned to individual bonds between atoms, but are treated as moving under the influence of the nuclei in the whole molecule.

HOMO and LUMO: This statement stand for highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), respectively. So this energy difference between the HOMO and LUMO is termed the HOMO–LUMO gap.

Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory:  It is a model used in chemistry to predict the geometry of individual molecules from the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms.