Explanation:
Carbon in CH₄ has four single bonds and no lone pairs, so it uses sp³ hybridization with tetrahedral geometry.
Explanation:
Each carbon in C₂H₄ forms three sigma bonds and one pi bond, using sp² hybridization with trigonal planar geometry.
Explanation:
Each carbon in C₂H₂ forms two sigma bonds and two pi bonds, using sp hybridization with linear geometry.
Explanation:
Nitrogen in NH₃ has 3 sigma bonds and 1 lone pair, giving a steric number of 4 and sp³ hybridization.
Explanation:
Oxygen in H₂O has 2 sigma bonds and 2 lone pairs, giving a steric number of 4 and sp³ hybridization.
Explanation:
Phosphorus in PCl₅ has 5 sigma bonds and 0 lone pairs, giving a steric number of 5 and sp³d hybridization.
Explanation:
Sulfur in SF₆ has 6 sigma bonds and 0 lone pairs, giving a steric number of 6 and sp³d² hybridization.
Explanation:
Each carbon in benzene has 3 sigma bonds and 1 pi bond, making it sp² hybridized. The remaining p orbitals combine to form delocalized pi molecular orbitals.
Explanation:
Benzene has 6 C-C sigma bonds and 6 C-H sigma bonds = 12 sigma bonds, plus 6 delocalized pi electrons.
Explanation:
Benzene has 6 pi electrons (one from each carbon's unhybridized p orbital), delocalized over the ring, satisfying Hückel's 4n+2 rule with n=1.
Explanation:
In H₂, the two 1s atomic orbitals combine to form a lower-energy bonding sigma MO (σ_1s) and a higher-energy antibonding sigma* MO (σ*_1s). The two electrons fill the bonding MO.
Explanation:
O₂ has 8 bonding and 4 antibonding electrons in MOs, giving bond order = (8−4)/2 = 2. O₂ also has two unpaired electrons in the π* antibonding orbitals, making it paramagnetic.
Explanation:
N₂ has 10 bonding and 4 antibonding electrons, giving bond order = (10−4)/2 = 3, consistent with a triple bond.
Explanation:
MO theory predicts two unpaired electrons in the π* antibonding orbitals of O₂. This explains why liquid O₂ is attracted to a magnetic field (paramagnetism), which VSEPR and valence bond theory cannot explain.
Explanation:
For O₂ and F₂, the σ_2p orbital is lower than the π_2p orbitals. For N₂ and lighter diatomics, the ordering is reversed.
Explanation:
O₂⁻ has 8 bonding and 5 antibonding electrons, giving bond order = (8−5)/2 = 1.5.
Explanation:
In N₂, the σ_2p orbital is higher in energy than the π_2p orbitals. With 10 valence electrons, the HOMO is σ_2p (the highest occupied molecular orbital).
Explanation:
A stable molecule requires more electrons in bonding than in antibonding MOs, giving a positive bond order. If BO ≤ 0, the molecule does not exist as a stable species.
Explanation:
According to MO theory, O₂ has two unpaired electrons in the degenerate π*_2p orbitals (one in each). This makes O₂ paramagnetic.
Explanation:
Sigma bonds form by head-on (axial) overlap of orbitals, concentrating electron density along the internuclear axis. Pi bonds form by side-on overlap.
Explanation:
Pi bonds result from side-on overlap of parallel p orbitals, creating electron density above and below the internuclear axis.
Explanation:
Sigma bonds are stronger than pi bonds due to greater overlap along the internuclear axis, which concentrates electron density directly between the nuclei.
Explanation:
Sulfur in SO₂ has 2 sigma bonds to oxygen and 1 lone pair (resonance structures contribute additional bonding character). Steric number = 3, so sp² hybridization with bent geometry.
Explanation:
The carbonate ion has a central carbon bonded to three oxygens with one delocalized pi bond. This gives three sigma bonds and no lone pairs on carbon: sp² hybridization with trigonal planar geometry.
Explanation:
Antibonding orbitals have a node between the nuclei, reducing electron density in the bonding region and weakening the bond. They are marked with an asterisk (*).