NEETChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
Which of the following statements regarding the nitrogen molecule and its ions is correct?
Options
- ADuring the conversion of N ₂ to N ₂^+ , the bond order decreases and the species becomes paramagnetic.
- BIn the formation of N ₂^- from N ₂ , the additional electron enters a bonding molecular orbital.
- CThe bond order of N ₂^+ is greater than that of N ₂ because an electron is removed from an antibonding molecul
- DBoth N ₂^+ and N ₂^- are diamagnetic species because their bond orders are identical.
Correct answer
A. During the conversion of N ₂ to N ₂^+ , the bond order decreases and the species becomes paramagnetic.
Step-by-step solution
According to Molecular Orbital Theory: N ₂ ( 14 electrons) has the configuration: 1s^2 ^ * 1s^2 2s^2 ^ * 2s^2 2p_x^2 = 2p_y^2 2p_z^2 . Its bond order is 10 - 4 2 = 3 . Since all electrons are paired, it is diamagnetic. When N ₂ is converted to N ₂^+ ( 13 electrons), an electron is removed from the bonding molecular orbital ( 2p_z ). The new bond order becomes 9 - 4 2 = 2.5 . The presence of one unpaired electron makes N ₂^+ paramagnetic. Thus, the bond order decreases and the magnetic nature changes from diamagneti