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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Mark S 2014 on October 10, 2014, 05:45:49 PM

Title: Molecural Orbital Energy Diagrams
Post by: Mark S 2014 on October 10, 2014, 05:45:49 PM

Just started molecular orbital energy diagrams today. I'm looking at the diagrams for F₂. F has 5 electrons in the p orbitals. I don't get why the 3σ_u^* antibonding orbital has to be left empty, why not one of the 1Π_g^* anitbonding orbitals ? This implies that the p_z orbitals are filled last each time, but I thought the p orbitals where degenerate and could be filled in any order. Is it just convention that p_z orbitals are filled last, thus the energy diagram should always look the same ? Or in theory could for example both p_y orbitals each contain the single electron, leaving the 1Π_g^* orbital empty ?

Title: Re: Molecural Orbital Energy Diagrams
Post by: Mark S 2014 on October 10, 2014, 06:09:12 PM

Never mind, stupid quesiton. I undestand now, the question did not make sense - I misunderstood something.