Molecular Orbitals Formed from 2s and 2p Atomic Orbitals

Question:
The total number of molecular orbitals formed from 2s and 2p atomic orbitals of a diatomic molecule is _________.

Correct Answer: 8

Explanation (Molecular Orbital Theory)

According to Molecular Orbital Theory, the number of molecular orbitals formed is equal to the number of atomic orbitals combined.

For each atom:

• One 2s atomic orbital
• Three 2p atomic orbitals (2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z)

Total atomic orbitals from one atom = 4

For a diatomic molecule:

Total atomic orbitals = 4 × 2 = 8

Hence, the total number of molecular orbitals formed is:

8

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