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Ch. 2 - General Chemistry Translated: Finding the Electrons
Mullins - Organic Chemistry: A Learner Centered Approach 1st Edition
Mullins1st EditionOrganic Chemistry: A Learner Centered ApproachISBN: 9780137566471Non è quello che usi tu?Cambia libro di testo
Capitolo 1, Problema 44

A molecular orbital diagram is shown for the C―Cl bond in chloromethane. If two more electrons were added to chloromethane, where would the electrons go?
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Step 1: Analyze the molecular orbital diagram provided. The diagram shows the bonding (σ) and antibonding (σ*) molecular orbitals for the C-Cl bond in chloromethane. The bonding orbital (σ) is lower in energy and fully occupied with two electrons, while the antibonding orbital (σ*) is higher in energy and currently unoccupied.
Step 2: Recall the principle of electron filling in molecular orbitals. Electrons fill the lowest available energy orbitals first, following the Aufbau principle. If additional electrons are added to the molecule, they will occupy the next available orbital with the lowest energy.
Step 3: Determine the next available orbital. Since the bonding orbital (σ) is already fully occupied, the next available orbital is the antibonding orbital (σ*), which is higher in energy.
Step 4: Consider the implications of adding electrons to the antibonding orbital. Electrons in antibonding orbitals weaken the bond between the atoms because they counteract the stabilizing effect of electrons in the bonding orbital.
Step 5: Conclude that if two more electrons were added to chloromethane, they would occupy the antibonding orbital (σ*), potentially destabilizing the C-Cl bond.

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