Question

Explain why $O_2$ molecule is paramagnetic in nature? Write Molecular Orbital configuration of $O_2$.

Answer 1

The molecular orbital configuration of $O_2$ is as follows:

$\left({\sigma }_{1s}{)}^2\right({\sigma }_{1s}^{\ast }{)}^2\left({\sigma }_{2s}{)}^2\right({\sigma }_{2s}^{\ast }{)}^2\left({\sigma }_{2p}{)}^2\right({\pi }_{2px}{)}^2\left(\right({\pi }_{2py}{)}^2\left(\right({\pi }_{2px}^{\ast }{)}^1\left(\right({\pi }_{2py}^{\ast }{)}^2$

Since it has two unpaired elecrons in ${\pi }_{2p}^{\ast }$ orbital.

It is paramagnetic in nature.