Question

The number of electrons in bonding orbital and anti-bonding orbital of Lithium molecule are ______ and _______ respectively.

(a) 4, 4

(b) 2, 2

(c) 2, 4

(d) 4, 2

The question was posed to me in my homework.

Question is from Bonding in Some Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules in chapter Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Right choice is (d) 4, 2

The explanation is: The lithium molecule is denoted by Li2. When the lithium molecule is formed, each of the lithium shares an electron in the 2s orbital. Its electronic configuration is σ1s^2σ*1s^2σ2s^2. So the number of electrons in bonding orbital and anti-bonding orbital of Lithium molecule are 4 and 2  respectively.