Question

In $O_2^{-},O_2$ and $O_2^{-2}$molecular species, the total number of antibonding electrons respectively are:

• A. $7,6,8$
• B. $1,0,2$
• C. $6,6,6$
• D. $8,6,8$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $7,6,8$

The electronic configuration of the $O_2^{-}$ ion containing 17 electrons can be written as:

$1s^2\ast 1s^{2}2s^2\ast 2s^{2}2p{z}^{2}2p{x}^{2}2p{y}^2\ast 2p{x}^2\ast 2p{y}^1$

The electronic configuration of the $O_2$ containing 16 electrons can be written as:

$1s^2\ast 1s^{2}2s^2\ast 2s^{2}2p{z}^{2}2p{x}^{2}2p{y}^2\ast 2p{x}^1\ast 2p{y}^1$

The electronic configuration of the $O_2^{-2}$ ion containing 18 electrons can be written as:

$1s^2\ast 1s^{2}2s^2\ast 2s^{2}2p{z}^{2}2p{x}^{2}2p{y}^2\ast 2p{x}^2\ast 2p{y}^2$

Thus no of electrons in the antibonding orbitals are respectively 7,6,8.