Constructing an MO Diagram for a Diatomic Molecule
Nitrogen monoxide (NO), usually called nitric oxide, is a diatomic molecule with a molecular orbital diagram similar to that of N_2 (Figure 5.12a). Show the MO diagram for nitric oxide, and predict its bond order. Is NO diamagnetic or paramagnetic?
STRATEGY
Count the number of valence electrons in NO, and assign them to the available MOs shown in Figure 5.12a, beginning with the lowest energy orbital.
Nitric oxide has 5 valence electrons from N and 6 from O for a total of 11. Assigning the 11 electrons to the MOs in Figure 5.12a shows that NO has 8 bonding and 3 antibonding electrons and a bond order of (8 – 3)/2 = 2.5. Because it has one unpaired electron, it is paramagnetic