Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct molecular orbital (MO) electron configuration for Be$_2^+$?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following best represents the orbital diagram for a ground-state oxygen atom?
A
1s: ↑↓ 2s: ↑↓ 2p: ↑↓ ↑↓
B
1s: ↑↓ 2s: ↑↓ 2p: ↑↓ ↑ ↑
C
1s: ↑↓ 2s: ↑↓ 2p: ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
D
1s: ↑↓ 2s: ↑↓ 2p: ↑↓ ↑ ↑
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Determine the total number of electrons in a ground-state oxygen atom. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, so it has 8 electrons.
Step 2: Fill the orbitals in order of increasing energy according to the Aufbau principle: first fill 1s, then 2s, then 2p orbitals.
Step 3: Fill the 1s orbital with 2 electrons (paired spins), then fill the 2s orbital with 2 electrons (paired spins). This accounts for 4 electrons so far.
Step 4: Distribute the remaining 4 electrons among the three 2p orbitals. According to Hund's rule, place one electron in each 2p orbital first with parallel spins before pairing any electrons.
Step 5: Represent the 2p orbitals with three arrows: one electron in each of the three 2p orbitals (all with the same spin), and then pair the fourth electron in one of the 2p orbitals.
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