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NEET CHEMISTRYMedium

The pairs of species of oxygen and their magnetic behaviours are given below. Which of the following represents the correct description?

A

O,O22O, O_{2}^{2-} - Both paramagnetic

B

O2,O22O_{2}^{-}, O_{2}^{2-} - Both diamagnetic

C

O+,O22O^{+}, O_{2}^{2-} - Both paramagnetic

D

O2+,O2O_{2}^{+}, O_{2} - Both paramagnetic

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine the correct description, we analyze the magnetic behavior of each oxygen species based on the number of unpaired electrons in their electronic configurations:

  1. O2O_{2} (Dioxygen): Has 16 electrons. Its molecular orbital configuration ends in (π2px1=π2py1)(\pi^{*} 2p_{x}^{1} = \pi^{*} 2p_{y}^{1}), meaning it has two unpaired electrons and is paramagnetic .
  2. O2+O_{2}^{+}: Has 15 electrons. It is formed by removing one electron from a π\pi^{*} orbital of O2O_{2}, leaving one unpaired electron. Thus, it is paramagnetic.
  3. O2O_{2}^{-} (Superoxide): Has 17 electrons. It has one additional electron in the π\pi^{*} orbitals compared to O2O_{2}, leaving one unpaired electron. Thus, it is paramagnetic.
  4. O22O_{2}^{2-} (Peroxide): Has 18 electrons. Both π\pi^{*} orbitals are fully occupied (π2px2=π2py2)(\pi^{*} 2p_{x}^{2} = \pi^{*} 2p_{y}^{2}), meaning all electrons are paired. Thus, it is diamagnetic.
  5. OO (Oxygen atom): Has 8 electrons. Its atomic configuration is 1s22s22p41s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{4}. According to Hund's rule, it has two unpaired electrons in the 2p2p orbitals and is paramagnetic.
  6. O+O^{+} (Oxygen atom cation): Has 7 electrons. Its configuration is 1s22s22p31s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{3}, with three unpaired electrons in the 2p2p orbitals, making it paramagnetic.

Evaluating the options: Option A is incorrect because O22O_{2}^{2-} is diamagnetic. Option B is incorrect because O2O_{2}^{-} is paramagnetic. Option C is incorrect because O22O_{2}^{2-} is diamagnetic. Option D is correct because both O2+O_{2}^{+} and O2O_{2} are paramagnetic.

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