Chapter 14, Problem 14.6YT

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

In the given MO diagram of benzene, each of the MOs is to be labeled as bonding, nonbonding, or antibonding. The degenerate orbitals pairs are also to be identified.

Concept introduction:

Relative to the p AO energies (a dotted vertical line in MO energy diagram), bonding MOs possess lower energy while antibonding MOs possess higher energy, and nonbonding MOs have exact energy to the corresponding AOs, so nonbonding orbitals are generally placed on the vertical line. This information is important in the identification of a given compound as aromatic or antiaromatic, identified by using Frost method. The orbitals with the same energy are called degenerate orbitals.