Question

Which of the following orbitals in F2 do not possess a nodal plane? You may choose more than one response.

a. σ*2p
b. σ2s
c. π*2p
d. π2p
e. σ*2s
f. σ2p

Answer 1

The orbitals in F2 that do not possess a nodal plane are the bonding σ2s and σ2p orbitals. Therefore, the correct answers are b (σ2s) and f (σ2p).

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which orbitals in F2 do not possess a nodal plane. A nodal plane is a plane, passing through the nucleus of a molecule, where the probability of finding an electron is zero. A bonding σ (sigma) molecular orbital does not have a nodal plane because it is symmetrical around the internuclear axis, whereas an antibonding σ* (sigma star) orbital has at least one nodal plane. A bonding π (pi) orbital and antibonding π* (pi star) orbital both have a nodal plane containing the nuclei.

Given the options:

1. σ*2p (antibonding sigma molecular orbital derived from 2p atomic orbitals)
2. σ2s (bonding sigma molecular orbital derived from 2s atomic orbitals)
3. π*2p (antibonding pi molecular orbital derived from 2p atomic orbitals)
4. π2p (bonding pi molecular orbital derived from 2p atomic orbitals)
5. σ*2s (antibonding sigma molecular orbital derived from 2s atomic orbitals)
6. σ2p (bonding sigma molecular orbital derived from 2p atomic orbitals)

The orbitals that do not possess a nodal plane are the σ2s and σ2p because they are bonding orbitals. Therefore, the correct answers are b (σ2s) and f (σ2p).