Question

In oxygen and carbon molecule the bonding is

• A. $O_2: 1\sigma, 1\pi; \text{C}_2: 0\sigma, 2\pi$
• B. $O_2: 1\sigma, 1\pi; \text{C}_2: 1\sigma, 1\pi$
• C. $O_2: 0\sigma, 2\pi; \text{C}_2: 2\sigma, 0\pi$
• D. $O_2: 2\sigma, 0\pi; \text{C}_2: 0\sigma, 2\pi$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$O_2: 1\sigma, 1\pi; \text{C}_2: 0\sigma, 2\pi$

Answer 2

The statement (A) is correct. In an oxygen molecule (O2), there is a sigma ($\sigma$) bond and a pi ($\pi$) bond between the two oxygen atoms.
The sigma bond is formed by the overlap of two atomic orbitals along the internuclear axis, while the pi bond is formed by the sideways overlap of p orbitals. On the other hand, in a carbon molecule (C2), there are no sigma bonds but two pi bonds between the two carbon atoms.
So, the correct answer is (A) O2: 1σ, 1 π; C2: 0σ, 2π.