Question

Consider the species Cl2+, Cl2, and Cl2-. Which of these species will be paramagnetic?

Answer 1

Among Cl₂, Cl₂^- , Cl₂⁺ , paramagnetic species are Cl₂^- , Cl₂⁺. This can be explained according to MOLECULAR ORBITAL THEORY as follows:

Cl₂ has two chlorine atoms each with 17 electrons, therefore total electrons are 34(17+17)

Its MOLECULAR ORBITAL ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION shows that it has all electrons paired, so it is DIAMAGNETIC. $\sigma 1s2$    $\sigma *1s2$     $\sigma 2s2$    $\sigma* 2s2$    $\sigma 2pz2$     $\pi 2px2$ = $\pi 2py2$    $\pi *2px2=\pi *2py2$ $\sigma *2pz2$    $\sigma 3s2$    $\sigma *3s2$    $\sigma 3pz2$    $\pi 3px2$ = $\pi 3py2$ $\pi *3px2=\pi *3py2$ .

In Cl₂⁺ it has 33 electrons,Its MOLECULAR ORBITAL ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION shows that it has one unpaired electron so it is paramagnetic. $\sigma 1s2$    $\sigma *1s2$     $\sigma 2s2$    $\sigma* 2s2$    $\sigma 2pz2$     $\pi 2px2$ = $\pi 2py2$    $\pi *2px2=\pi *2py2$ $\sigma *2pz2$    $\sigma 3s2$    $\sigma *3s2$    $\sigma 3pz2$    $\pi 3px2$ = $\pi 3py2$    $\pi *3px2=\pi *3py1$    .

In Cl₂^- it has 35 electrons,Its MOLECULAR ORBITAL ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION shows that it has one unpaired electron so it is paramagnetic. $\sigma 1s2$    $\sigma *1s2$     $\sigma 2s2$    $\sigma* 2s2$    $\sigma 2pz2$     $\pi 2px2$ = $\pi 2py2$    $\pi *2px2=\pi *2py2$ $\sigma *2pz2$    $\sigma 3s2$    $\sigma *3s2$    $\sigma 3pz2$    $\pi 3px2$ = $\pi 3py2$    $\pi *3px2=\pi *3py2$    $\sigma *3pz1$ .