What is the molecular orbital configuration of the F2 molecule?

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Q: What is the molecular orbital configuration of the F2 molecule?

Solution: The correct configuration for F2 is (σ1s)²(σ*1s)²(σ2s)²(σ*2s)²(σ2p)²(π2p)⁴(π*2p)².

Steps: 10

Step 1: Understand that F2 is a molecule made of two fluorine atoms.
Step 2: Know that molecular orbitals are formed from the atomic orbitals of the atoms.
Step 3: Identify the atomic orbitals involved: 1s, 2s, and 2p orbitals from each fluorine atom.
Step 4: Fill the molecular orbitals in order of increasing energy, starting with the lowest energy level.
Step 5: Fill the 1s molecular orbitals first: (σ1s)² for bonding and (σ*1s)² for antibonding.
Step 6: Next, fill the 2s molecular orbitals: (σ2s)² for bonding and (σ*2s)² for antibonding.
Step 7: Move to the 2p molecular orbitals: fill (σ2p)² for bonding first.
Step 8: Then fill the degenerate π2p orbitals: (π2p)⁴ (two electrons in each of the two π orbitals).
Step 9: Finally, fill the antibonding π*2p orbitals: (π*2p)² (one electron in each of the two π* orbitals).
Step 10: Combine all the filled orbitals to write the complete molecular orbital configuration: (σ1s)²(σ*1s)²(σ2s)²(σ*2s)²(σ2p)²(π2p)⁴(π*2p)².