Μolecular Orbitals

Question 1

How is bond order calculated

Answer 1

1/2 x (no. of bonding electrons - no. Of anti-bonding electrons)

Question 2

What is a paramagnetic molecule?

Answer 2

A molecule with unpaired electron(s), giving them a net magnetic charge

Question 3

What is a diamagnetic molecule?

Answer 3

A molecule that does not contain unpaired electron(s), and thus have no net magnetic charge

Question 4

What is a heteronuclear molecule?

Answer 4

A molecule containing two different atoms; usually contain asymmetric molecular orbitals since the atomic orbitals are of different sizes

Question 5

What are network solids?

Answer 5

Network solids are molecules composed of electron bands, rather than electron orbitals (the valence band and the conduction band)

Question 6

What is the valence band?

Answer 6

The valence band is a network solid’s band of OCCUPIED orbitals

Question 7

What is the conduction band?

Answer 7

The conduction band is a network solid’s band of UNOCCUPIED orbitals

Question 8

What is the band gap?

Answer 8

The gap between valence and conduction band which = energy required to promote an electron from V to C band.

Question 9

Relate the band gap of a network solid and its colour

Answer 9

Large band gap = no light absorbed = clear.

Small band gap = all visible light absorbed = black

Question 10

How to calculate the bond order of resonance structures?

Answer 10

No. of bonds that must be formed / no. of possible resonance structures.