Why Is O2 Molecule Paramagnetic?

Why Is O2 Molecule Paramagnetic?

Based on molecular orbital theory, orbitals are formed by overlapping atomic orbitals

atomic orbitals
History. The term "orbital" was coined by Robert Mulliken in 1932 as an abbreviation for one-electron orbital wave function.
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of oxygen atoms. ... Due to the presence of two unpaired electrons, we can say that the oxygen molecule is paramagnetic in nature. The reason why oxygen is paramagnetic is because of the presence of two unpaired electrons.

Why O2 is paramagnetic and diamagnetic?

It shows that all the electrons in oxygen are paired, so oxygen should be diamagnetic. ... We add the 12 valence electrons according to the Aufbau principle. The last two electrons go into separate, degenerate π orbitals, according to Hund's Rule. Thus, oxygen has two unpaired electrons and is paramagnetic.

Is the O2 molecule paramagnetic?

Because the O2 molecule has two unpaired electrons, it is paramagnetic.

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