Diagram of a diatomic molecule. 2s a 2p a 2s b 2p b notice that es ep because the s bonds have more overlap than p. These elements are diatomic when evaporated yet polymerize when they are cooled. Diatomic elements played an important role in the elucidation of the concepts of element atom and molecule in the 19th century because some of the most common elements such as hydrogen oxygen and nitrogen occur as diatomic molecules. The atomic orbitals of atoms in homonuclear diatomic molecules overlap to form distinct sets of molecular orbitals.
Its possible for additional elements to form homonuclear diatomic molecules. In comparing these three diatomic molecules recall that n2 has the strongest bond followed by o2 and f2. Therefore for a molecule to be paramagnetic it must have unpaired electrons. The correct molecular orbital energy level diagram for an o2 molecule is shown in fig.
In this example problem we show how to fill a molecular orbital diagram for a diatomic molecule and use molecular bond theory to compare bond order bond strength and magnetic properties. Mo diagrams for diatomic molecules chapter 5 friday october 9 2015. Short lecture on the electron configurations of homonuclear diatomic molecules. Sulfur vapor primarily consists of disulfur s 2.
The lewis dot structure famously predicts the wrong electronic structure for o2 we can use lcao mo theory to get a better picture. They also give insight to the bond order of the molecule how many bonds are shared between the two atoms. A diatomic molecular orbital diagram is used to understand the bonding of a diatomic molecule. Homonuclear diatomic molecules what happens when we move to more complicated systems.