In: Chemistry
Suppose a photon excites an electron such that the electron is removed from a bonding orbital and placed in an antibonding orbital. How does the bond order change for this molecule?
Select one:
a. increases by 0.5
b. increases by 1.0
c. decreases by 0.5
d. decreases by 1.0
The bond order is determined as
Bond order = (Number of electrons in bonding orbital - Number of electrons in antibonding orbital ) / 2
So let say the number of electrons in bonding orbital = 10 (initially) and in ABMO =5
Bond order = 10-5/2 = 2.5
After exitation, number of electrons in bonding orbital = 9 and in ABMO = 6
Bond order = 9-6/2 = 1.5 , so it decreased by 1.
Hence answer is decreased by 1.0
In general ,
Let electrons in bonding orbital = b
Electron in antibonding orbtial = a
After exitation , b-1 and a+1
Let, a-b/2 = c (bond order)
After exitation
(a-1)-(b+1) /2 = a-b -2 /2 = a-b/2 - 1 = c-1 (decreased by 1)