What is an example of an electron configurations practice problem?

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
May 8, 2015

Why is the bond order of O_2^- smaller than the bond order of N_2^-?
Hint: Draw out the molecular orbital diagram, fill it in, and try writing a configuration for it. These do not have the same orbital ordering. The bond order of O_2^- is actually 3/2. The bond order of N_2^- is 7/2, as expected.

The relevant configurations go from bottom to top:

(2ssigma_g)(2ssigma_u^*)(2p_(x,y)pi_u)(2p_zsigma_g)(2p_(x,y)pi_g^*)(2p_zsigma_u^*)

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