Chapter 9.7, Problem 1PPB

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The magnetic properties and the bond order of ${\text{F}}_{\text{2}}{}^{2+}$ is to be determined using molecular orbital theory.

Concept introduction:

The combination of two atomic orbitals leads to the formation of a bonding and an antibonding molecular orbital. Orbitals that lie on internuclear axis combine to form sigma $\sigma$ molecular orbitals, and orbitals parallel to each other combine to form $\pi$ molecular orbitals.

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

Bond order is determined by subtracting the number of antibonding electrons from the number of bonding electrons and then dividing the obtained number by two.

Bond order is calculated as follows:

$\text{Bond order = }\frac{\text{Number of bonding electrons }-\text{ number of antibonding electrons}}{2}$