Question

Using the molecular orbital model, write electron configurations for the following diatomic species and calculate the bond orders. Which ones are paramagnetic? Place the species in order of increasing bond length and bond energy.
a. CN +
b. CN
c. CN -

Answer 1

Answer:

Bond orders

CN- =3

CN+ =2.5

CN =2

CN+ is paramagnetic

The order of increasing bond energy is CN <CN+ <CN-

The order of increasing bond length is CN- <CN+ <CN

Explanation:

The molecular orbital diagram of CN- is shown in the image attached. From that image, it is easy to deduce the bond order of the other related species. Bond length is in the reverse order as bond energy because the shorter the bond, the greater the bond energy. The specie with the highest bond order has the highest bond energy.