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Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories

Chapter 9, Problem 11c1

For each of these contour representations of molecular orbitals, identify (c) whether the MO is bonding or antibonding (i)

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Hello. And this problem has to classify each of the following molecular orbital representations as bonding or anti bonding molecular orbital. Looking at the first one we see we have a slope shape like p orbital's. We have a nodal plane that is running through the inner nuclear axis and we have side by side overlap of p orbital's which is holding the nuclei together. So this would be a bonding like the umbrella. The next one we see that we again have the slope shape like p orbital's. We have our nodal plane running through the inner nuclear axis and then we have another one perpendicular to this. We also have two different colored lobes which tells us that our p orbital's are out of phase is how to phase orbital's then will combine to form a anti bonding like orbital. And the third one we see that we have most of the electron density between the two nuclei. And we have then s orbital's that have come together that are spherical and the electrons are being attracted to both nuclei which is helping to hold them together. So the third one, it would be a bonding like the orbital. These three then correspond to answer C. Thanks for watching. Hope. This helped