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Write Brief Answer · Q6

Q.Draw MO diagram of CO and calculate its bond order.

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Step 1. Carbon's atomic configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p² (6 electrons); oxygen's is 1s² 2s² 2p⁴ (8 electrons) — CO has 6 + 8 = 14 total electrons, exactly the same as N₂ (7 + 7 = 14). CO is said to be ISOELECTRONIC with N₂, so its molecular-orbital filling follows the same pattern as N₂'s.

Step 2. Molecular-orbital configuration of CO: σ1s² σ1s² σ2s² σ2s² π2py² π2pz² σ2px² (note π2p filling BEFORE σ2px, the same ordering used for N₂, since CO is a 'light' diatomic like the second-period homonuclear series).

Step 3. Bond order. Nb=2+2+2+2+2=10N_b = 2+2+2+2+2 = 10 (σ1s, σ2s, π2py, π2pz, σ2px all bonding, each with 2 electrons); Na=2+2=4N_a = 2+2 = 4 (σ1s, σ2s). BO=(10−4)/2=3BO = (10-4)/2 = 3. …

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