Assertion : The oxygen molecule ( O₂ ) is attracted by an external magnetic field. Reason : According to Molecular Orbital Theory, the O₂ molecule possesses two unpaired electrons in its degenerate ^* antibonding orbitals.

Step-by-step solution

The electronic configuration of O₂ molecule (16 electrons) according to Molecular Orbital Theory is: _ 1s ^2 _ 1s ^ *2 _ 2s ^2 _ 2s ^ *2 _ 2p_z ^2 _ 2p_x ^2 = _ 2p_y ^2 _ 2p_x ^ *1 = _ 2p_y ^ *1 Due to the presence of two unpaired electrons in the degenerate ^ * antibonding orbitals, the O₂ molecule is paramagnetic in nature. Paramagnetic substances are attracted by an external magnetic field. Thus, both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion. Answer: Both Assertion and Rea