Physical Chemistry Questions and Answers – Electronic Configurations of Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules

This set of Physical Chemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Electronic Configurations of Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules”.

1. What are homonuclear diatomic molecules?
a) Molecules formed upon the bonding of two same elements
b) Molecules formed upon the bonding of two different elements
c) Molecules formed upon the nuclear fission
d) Molecules formed upon the nuclear fusion
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Molecules formed upon the bonding of two same elements are known as homonuclear diatomic molecules, though not all diatomic molecules are homonuclear. For example Hydrogen (H2), Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), Chlorine (Cl2), Iodine (I2) etc. are all homonuclear diatomic molecules.

2. What is the electronic configuration of the H2 molecule?
a) (σ1s)
b) (σ1s)2
c) (σ1s)4
d) (σ2s)
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The atomic number of hydrogen is 1. So, according to the atomic number of hydrogen, it has only one electron in its 1s orbital. Therefore, the electronic configuration of H2 molecule is given as H2: (σ1s)2.

3. What is the nature of H2 molecule?
a) Paramagnetic
b) Ferromagnetic
c) Ferrimagnetic
d) Diamagnetic
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Dihydrogen molecule (H2) belongs to the family of diatomic molecules, which consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to each other by a covalent bond. Due to the absence of unpaired electrons in the hydrogen molecule, it is diamagnetic in nature.
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4. What is the electronic configuration of Lithium molecule (Li2)?
a) (σ1s)
b) (σ1s)2(σ*1s)2
c) (σ1s)2(σ*1s)2(σ2s)2
d) (σ1s)2(σ*1s)
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The Lithium molecule consists of two lithium atoms, bonded to each other by a covalent bond. Therefore, the electronic configuration of Lithium molecule (Li2) is given as Li2: (σ1s)2(σ*1s)22(σ2s)2. Its bond order is 1.

5. What is the nature of Oxygen molecule (O2)?
a) Diamagnetic
b) Ferrimagnetic
c) Ferromagnetic
d) Paramagnetic
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Oxygen molecule belongs to the family of diatomic molecules, which consists of two oxygen atoms, bonded to each other by a covalent bond. Due to the presence of one unpaired electron, O2 is paramagnetic in nature.

6. What is the electronic configuration of Helium molecule (He2)?
a) (σ1s)2(σ*1s)
b) (σ1s)2
c) (σ1s)2(σ*1s)2
d) (σ1s)2(σ*1s)2(σ2s)2
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The atomic number of Helium molecule (He2) is 2. So, according to the atomic number of Helium, it has two electrons in the 1s orbital. Therefore, the electronic configuration of Helium molecule (He2) is He2: (σ1s)2(σ*1s)2.

7. The electronic configuration of Carbon molecule (C2) is (σ1s)2(σ*1s)2(σ2s)2(σ*2s)2(π2p2x).
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Carbon molecule belongs to the family of diatomic molecules, which consists of two carbon atoms, bonded to each other by a covalent bond. Thus the electronic configuration of Carbon molecule is (σ1s)2(σ*1s)2(σ2s)2(σ*2s)2(π2p2x).
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8. Which of the following statements are true about Oxygen and Carbon molecules?
Statement 1: Oxygen molecule (O2) is diamagnetic in nature.
Statement 2: Carbon molecule (C2) is diamagnetic in nature.
a) Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false
b) Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
c) Statement 1 and statement 2, both are true
d) Statement 1 and statement 2, both are false
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Oxygen molecules (O2) and Carbon molecules (C2) both belongs to the family of diatomic molecules, bonded to each other by a covalent bond. But due to the presence of one unpaired electron, O2 molecule is paramagnetic in nature whereas due to the absence of unpaired electrons, C2 molecule is diamagnetic in nature.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Physical Chemistry.

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To practice all areas of Physical Chemistry, here is complete set of Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.

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Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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