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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
What is the number of unpaired electron(s) in the highest occupied molecular orbital of the following species : N2, N 2+,  O2,  O2+ ?
ChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureJEE MainJEE Main 2023 (24 Jan Shift 2)
Options:
  • A 0, 1, 2, 1
  • B 2, 1, 2, 1
  • C 0, 1, 0, 1
  • D 2, 1, 0, 1
Solution:
1108 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: 0, 1, 2, 1

The orbital in which last electron is present is called the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO).

N2 : σ1s2σ*1s2σ2s2σ*2s2π2px2=π2py2σ2pz2HOMO

N2+: σ1s2σ*1s2σ*2s2σ*2s2π2px2=π2py2σ2pz1HOMO

O2: σ1s2σ*1s2σ*2s2σ2pz2π2px1=π*2py1HOMO

O2+: σ1s2σ*1s2σ2s2σ*2s2σ2pz2π2px2=π2py2 π*2px1=π*2py0HOMO

N20 unpaired e in HOMO

N2+1 unpaired e- in HOMO

O22 unpaired e- in HOMO

O2+1 unpaired e- in HOMO

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