Molecular Orbital Configuration Of Carbon. If we look at the valence shell configuration of carbon we find two paired electrons in the 2 s orbital and two unpaired electrons in the 2 px and 2 py orbitals one in each. These adopt a linear arrangement.
There are 4 electrons in the outer shell of carbon and 6 a molecular orbital diagram or mo diagram is a qualitative descriptive tool explaining chemical bonding in molecules in terms of molecular orbital theory in general and the linear combination of atomic orbitals lcao molecular orbital method in particular. There is increased electron density between the two carbon nuclei in the molecular orbital it is a bonding interaction. With these derived atomic orbitals symmetry labels are deduced with respect to rotation about the principal axis which generates a phase change pi bond π 25 or generates no phase change known as a sigma bond σ.
There are 4 electrons in the outer shell of carbon and 6 a molecular orbital diagram or mo diagram is a qualitative descriptive tool explaining chemical bonding in molecules in terms of molecular orbital theory in general and the linear combination of atomic orbitals lcao molecular orbital method in particular.
In the bonding pi orbital the two shaded lobes of the p orbitals interact constructively with each other as do the two unshaded lobes remember the arbitrary shading choice represents mathematical and signs for the mathematical wavefunction describing the orbital. Carbon and each oxygen atom will have a 2s atomic orbital and a 2p atomic orbital where the p orbital is divided into p x p y and p z. If we look at the valence shell configuration of carbon we find two paired electrons in the 2 s orbital and two unpaired electrons in the 2 px and 2 py orbitals one in each. These adopt a linear arrangement.
