Final answer:
The paramagnetic species among the given options is O₂, which has two unpaired electrons and is attracted to magnetic fields, unlike N₂, F₂, and Ne₂, which are diamagnetic.The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to select the paramagnetic species from the given options. Paramagnetic substances are those which have unpaired electrons and are attracted to a magnetic field. They contrast with diamagnetic substances, which have no unpaired electrons and tend to be repelled by magnetic fields.
O₂ is known to be paramagnetic because it has two unpaired electrons in its molecular orbital configuration, specifically in the (¹₂py, ¹₂pz)* molecular orbitals. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is A. O₂.
Substances like N₂, F₂, and Ne₂ do not have unpaired electrons and are therefore considered diamagnetic. N₂, for example, has a completely filled set of molecular orbitals and no unpaired electrons, which means it is not affected by a magnetic field, confirming its diamagnetic nature.