Chemistry

Molecular Orbital Theory (MOT) of homonuclear diatomic molecules

In this Class 11 Chemistry topic from Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, students learn how atomic orbitals combine through the linear combination of atomic orbitals to form bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals in homonuclear diatomic molecules. They interpret molecular orbital diagrams, place electrons using Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle and Hund’s rule, and calculate bond order. The topic also connects bond order with molecular stability, bond strength and bond length, while explaining magnetic behaviour such as paramagnetism and diamagnetism.