Chapter 9.7, Problem 1PPA

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The magnetic properties and bond order of ${\text{N}}_{\text{2}}{}^{2-}$

are to be determined.

Concept introduction:

The combination of two atomic orbitals leads to the formation of a bond and an antibonding molecular orbital. Orbitals that lie on internuclear axis combine to form sigma ($\sigma$

) molecular orbitals, and orbitals parallel to each other combine to form $\pi$

molecular orbitals.

The molecular orbital formed by the combination of $\text{1s}$ orbital is a bonding molecular orbital designated as ${\sigma }_{1s}$, and an antibonding molecular orbital designated as ${\sigma }^{\ast }{}_{1s}$. The $\text{2s}$ orbital forms corresponding molecular orbitals.

Bond order is the difference between the number of antibonding electrons and the number of bonding electrons and dividing the obtained number by two.