Question

What bonding property of O2 prevents rapid oxidation reactions with most molecules at ambient temperatures in the atmosphere and biosphere

Answer 1

Answer :

1) Formation of Oxygen molecule on the basis of Molecular Orbital Theory i.e. MO diagram shown here.

2) An electron configuration with two unpaired electrons, as is found in dioxygen orbitals (look at the filled π* orbitals in the diagram) that are of equal energy i.e., degenerate & this configuration is termed a spin triplet state. Hence, the ground state of the O₂ molecule is referred to as triplet oxygen.

3) The highest energy, partially filled orbitals are antibonding, and so their filling weakens the bond order from three to two. Because of its unpaired electrons, triplet oxygen reacts only slowly with most organic molecules, which have paired electron spins; this prevents spontaneous combustion.

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