Question

Draw MO diagram of CO and calculate its bond order.

Answer 1

Bonding in some hetero nuclear di-atomic molecules:

Molecular orbital diagram of Carbon monoxide molecule (CO)

Electronic configuration of C atom: 1s² 2s² 2p²

Electronic configuration of O atom: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴

Electronic configuration of CO molecule :

σ_1s², σ_1s^*2, σ_2s², σ_2s^*2, π_2py², π_2pz² σ_2px²

Bond order = `("N"_"b" - "N"_"a")/2`

`= (10 - 4)/2` = 3

The molecule has no unpaired electrons hence it is diamagnetic.