The diatomic molecule OH exists in the gas phase. The length and bond energy have been measured to be 97.06pm and 424.7 kJ/mol, respectively. Assume that the OH molecule is analogous to the HF molecule discussed in the chapter and molecular orbitals result from the overlap of a lower energy pz orbital from oxygen with the higher energy 1s orbital of hydrogen. (The O-H bond lies along the z axis)
a. Which of the two molecular orbitals will have the greatest hydrogen 1s character?
b. Can the 2px orbital of oxygen form molecular orbitals with the 1s orbital of hydrogen?
c. Knowing that only the 2p orbitals of oxygen will interact significantly with the 1s orbital of hydrogen, complete the molecular orbital energy diagram for OH. Place the correct number of electrons in the energy levels.
d. Estimate the bond order for OH.
e. Predict whether the bond order of OH+ will be greater, less than, or the same as that of OH. Explain.