An electron is promoted from the π to the π^∗ molecular orbital in an N₂ molecule following the absorption of a photon. Compared to the bond length in the non-excited molecule, the N₂ bond length will A) not be affected B) be longer C) be shorter

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an electron is promoted to a higher energy molecular orbital, it generally leads to a decrease in the bond order, which in turn increases the bond length. This is because the higher energy molecular orbital (in this case, a π* orbital) is an antibonding orbital, which weakens the bond between the atoms, leading to a longer bond length.

An Electron Is Promoted from the π to the π∗

An Electron Is Promoted from the π to the π^∗