Chapter 9, Problem 9.9P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The molecular orbital diagram for $XeF$ has to be drawn and the ground state electronic configuration of the same has to be deduced. Also the bond length of $XeF$ and $Xe{F}^{+}$ has to be compared.

Concept Introduction:

Chemical bonding in molecule can be explained using molecular orbital diagram which is based on the molecular orbital theory.

This theory explains the formation of molecular orbital as the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO). That is atomic orbitals combines to form same number of molecular orbitals.

Molecular orbitals contain bonding orbitals of lower energy and anti-bonding orbitals of higher energy.

The strength of a bond in molecule can be determined by calculating the bond order. If bond order is more bond strength will be more and bond length will be short.

Bond order can be calculated from the following equation.

$\text{b=}\frac{\text{1}}{\text{2}}\left({\text{N-N}}^{\text{*}}\right)$

Where,

$b=$ bond order.

$N=$ number of electrons in bonding orbitals

$N^{*}=$ number of electrons in anti-bonding orbitals