In the molecular orbital theory, which of the following orbitals is the highest

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Question: In the molecular orbital theory, which of the following orbitals is the highest energy in O2?

Options:

Correct Answer: σ*2p

Solution:

The highest energy orbital in O2 is σ*2p, which is an antibonding orbital.

In the molecular orbital theory, which of the following orbitals is the highest energy in O2?

In the molecular orbital theory, which of the following orbitals is the highest energy in O2?

Step 1: Understand that O2 (oxygen molecule) has molecular orbitals formed from the atomic orbitals of the oxygen atoms.
Step 2: Know that molecular orbitals can be bonding or antibonding. Bonding orbitals help hold the atoms together, while antibonding orbitals can weaken the bond.
Step 3: Identify the molecular orbitals for O2. They are filled in order of increasing energy: σ2s, σ*2s, σ2p, π2p, π*2p, and σ*2p.
Step 4: Recognize that the highest energy orbital is the last one filled, which is σ*2p.
Step 5: Conclude that σ*2p is an antibonding orbital, meaning it has higher energy than the bonding orbitals.

Molecular Orbital Theory – A theory that describes the electronic structure of molecules using molecular orbitals, which are formed from the combination of atomic orbitals.
Antibonding Orbitals – Orbitals that result from the destructive interference of atomic orbitals, characterized by a higher energy than the corresponding bonding orbitals.
Energy Levels of Orbitals – Understanding the relative energy levels of molecular orbitals, particularly in diatomic molecules like O2.