Use molecular orbital theory to predict the bond order in H2-. Is the H2- bond stronger or weaker than the H2 bond?

Question

Use molecular orbital theory to predict the bond order in H[latex]_{2}^{-}[/latex]. Is the H[latex]_{2}^{-}[/latex] bond stronger or weaker than the H[latex]_{2}[/latex] bond?

Accepted Answer

The H[latex]_{2}^{-}[/latex] ion has three electrons. Assign the three electrons to the molecular orbitals, fill ing lower energy orbit als first and proceeding to higher energy orbitals.
Calculate the bond order by subtracting the number of elec-trons in antibonding orbitals from the num-ber in bonding orbit-als and dividing the result by two.	H[latex]_{2}^{-}[/latex] bond order = [latex]\frac{2-1}{2}=+\frac{1}{2}[/latex]
Since the bond order is positive, H[latex]_{2}^{-}[/latex] should be stable. However, the bond order of H[latex]_{2}^{-}[/latex]is lower than the bond order of H[latex]_{2}[/latex] (which is 1); therefore, the bond in H[latex]_{2}^{-}[/latex] is weaker than in H[latex]_{2}[/latex].

The H $_{2}^{-}$ ion has three electrons. Assign the three electrons to the molecular orbitals, fill ing lower energy orbit als first and proceeding to higher energy orbitals.
Calculate the bond order by subtracting the number of elec-trons in antibonding orbitals from the num-ber in bonding orbit-als and dividing the result by two.	H $_{2}^{-}$ bond order = $\frac{2-1}{2}=+\frac{1}{2}$
Since the bond order is positive, H $_{2}^{-}$ should be stable. However, the bond order of H $_{2}^{-}$ is lower than the bond order of H $_{2}$ (which is 1); therefore, the bond in H $_{2}^{-}$ is weaker than in H $_{2}$ .

Question 10.9: Use molecular orbital theory to predict the bond order in H2...

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