Question

In an MO (molecular orbital) scheme for CH4, Group of answer choices ..there are three equivalent bonding MOs of equal energy and one unique bonding MO. ..there are four equivalent bonding MOs of equal energy. ..there are two sets of doubly degenerate bonding MOs. ..there are four bonding MOs, each of different energy.

Answer 1

Answer:

there are three equivalent bonding MOs of equal energy and one unique bonding MO.

Explanation:

Let us recall that according to the principles of the molecular orbital theory, when a compound is formed, the number of bonding molecular orbitals must be equal to the number of antibonding molecular orbitals.

Now methane is formed from one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. There are four bonding molecular orbitals and four antibonding molecular orbitals.

Three out of the four bonding molecular orbitals are degenerate while one is unique.