Which of the following are predicted by the molecular...

Which of the following are predicted by the molecular orbital model to be stable diatomic species?
a. $\mathrm{H}_{2}^{+}, \mathrm{H}_{2}, \mathrm{H}_{2}^{-}, \mathrm{H}_{2}^{2-}$
b. $\mathrm{He}_{2}^{2+}, \mathrm{He}_{2}^{+}, \mathrm{He}_{2}$

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Key Concepts

Stability of Diatomic Species

Within the molecular orbital model, the stability of diatomic species is assessed by evaluating their electron configurations and corresponding bond orders. Stable diatomic molecules have a positive bond order, which means that the number of electrons in bonding orbitals exceeds those in antibonding orbitals, leading to net attractive interactions between the atoms.

Bond Order

Bond order is defined as half the difference between the number of electrons in bonding orbitals and the number of electrons in antibonding orbitals. It serves as a key indicator of molecular stability; a higher bond order suggests a stronger and more stable bond, whereas a bond order of zero or negative typically indicates that the molecule is unstable.

Molecular Orbital Theory

This theory explains how atomic orbitals combine to form molecular orbitals that are spread out over the entire molecule. It distinguishes between bonding orbitals (which lower the energy and stabilize the molecule) and antibonding orbitals (which raise the energy and destabilize the molecule), and provides the framework for analyzing electron distribution in molecules.

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