Question

State True or False.
${ O }_{ 2 }$, ${ O }_{ 2 }^{ - }$are paramagnetic while${ O }_{ 3 }$, ${ O }_{ 2 }^{ 2- }$are diamagnetic.
(a) True
(b) False

Answer 1

Hint: Draw the molecular orbital diagram , if all the electrons are paired, then it will be diamagnetic. On the other hand, if all of the electrons remain unpaired, then it will be diamagnetic.

Complete Step by Step answer:
${ O }_{ 2 }$, ${ O }_{ 2 }^{ - }$ are paramagnetic while${ O }_{ 3 }$, ${ O }_{ 2 }^{ 2- }$ are diamagnetic.
Structure of O₂

The given statement is True.
A molecule is said to be paramagnetic, if it has unpaired electrons present in it .
If all electrons are paired, then the molecule is said to be diamagnetic.
This is better explained by the molecular orbital diagram of ${ O }_{ 2 }$.
Since , all the compounds mentioned here are derivatives of${ O }_{ 2 }$, we can explain it by this diagram. In this diagram, the orbitals are arranged in the increasing order of energies.

Here we can see that in${ O }_{ 2 }$, in the molecular orbital diagram, there are 2 unpaired electrons in the $\left( { \pi }^{ \ast }2p \right) $orbital. And hence it is paramagnetic.
In the case of ${ O }_{ 2 }^{ - }$, one more electron is added to the valence shell, and then that electron will enter into one of the $\left( { \pi }^{ \ast }2p \right) $orbitals. Then only one unpaired electron still exists. So, it is paramagnetic.
In the case of ${ O }_{ 2 }^{ 2- }$, two more electrons are added to the valence shell of ${ O }_{ 2 }$molecule, and then that two electrons will enter $\left( { \pi }^{ \ast }2p \right) $orbitals, then all the electrons will be paired. Hence, it is diamagnetic in nature.
In the case of ${ O }_{ 3 }$ also, all the electrons are paired, and hence it is diamagnetic.
So, the correct option is option (a) True.


Additional Information:
Paramagnetism : Paramagnetic substances are weakly attracted by a magnetic field. These are magnetized in a magnetic field in the same direction. They lose their magnetism due to the presence of one or more unpaired electrons which are attracted by the magnetic field.
Diamagnetism : Diamagnetic substances are weakly repelled by a magnetic field. These are weakly magnetized in a magnetic field in the opposite direction. Diamagnetism is shown by those substances in which all the electrons are paired and there are no unpaired electrons. Pairing of electrons cancels their magnetic moment and they lose their magnetic character.


Note: Also, one can explain also by using molecular orbital electronic configuration as well.
For Eg: In the case of ${ O }_{ 2 }$, the MO Electronic configuration is :
$\left[ He \right] { \sigma 2s }^{ 2 }{ \quad \sigma }^{ \ast }{ 2s }^{ 2 }{ \quad \pi 2 }{ p }_{ z }^{ 2 }{ \quad { \quad \pi 2 }{ p }_{ x }^{ 2 }\quad { \quad \pi 2 }{ p }_{ y }^{ 2 }\quad { \pi }^{ \ast }2 }{ p }_{ x }^{ 1 }\quad { \pi }^{ \ast }2{ p }_{ y }^{ 1 }$ , From this we can see that Oxygen is having 1 unpaired electrons each in ${ { \pi }^{ \ast }2 }{ p }_{ x }^{ 1 }\quad and\quad { \pi }^{ \ast }2{ p }_{ y }^{ 1 }$ and hence we can conclude that ${ O }_{ 2 }$ is paramagnetic, also one can determine in the case of other compounds using this method.