In which of the following molecules does the molecular orbital configuration lead to paramagnetism?

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Q: In which of the following molecules does the molecular orbital configuration lead to paramagnetism?

Solution: O2 is paramagnetic due to the presence of two unpaired electrons in its molecular orbitals.

Steps: 6

Step 1: Understand what paramagnetism means. Paramagnetic substances have unpaired electrons in their molecular orbitals.
Step 2: Identify the molecular orbital configuration of O2. O2 has a total of 16 electrons.
Step 3: Fill the molecular orbitals according to the Aufbau principle, Hund's rule, and the Pauli exclusion principle.
Step 4: In the case of O2, the molecular orbital configuration is: (σ1s)² (σ*1s)² (σ2s)² (σ*2s)² (σ2p)² (π2p)² (π*2p)¹ (π*2p)¹.
Step 5: Look for unpaired electrons in the configuration. O2 has two unpaired electrons in the π*2p orbitals.
Step 6: Conclude that since O2 has unpaired electrons, it is paramagnetic.