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Question

Why is O2 paramagnetic?


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Solution

Magnetic Nature

  • A substance's electron configuration can be used to identify its magnetic properties.
  • The substance is paramagnetic if its electrons are unpaired.
  • The substance is diamagnetic if all of its electrons are paired.
  • Examples of paramagnetic: aluminum Al and sodium Na.
  • Examples of diamagnetic: copper Cu and silver Ag.

Magnetic property of O2

  • Oxygen O2 is paramagnetic due to the presence of two unpaired electrons in its last molecular orbital.
  • The Molecular orbital electronic configuration is as follows:

σ1s2σ*1s2σ2s2σ*2s2σ2pz2π2px2=π2py2π*2px1=π*2py1

  • Molecular orbital diagram:


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