Chapter 9, Problem 9.7P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The various orientations of p and d orbitals to form bonding and anti-bonding molecular orbitals have to be shown.

Concept Introduction:

The electrons present in the bonding orbitals stabilize the molecule because these orbitals have lower energy. The anti-bonding orbitals have higher energy so on placing electron in anti-bonding orbitals will destabilize the molecule.

The shape of p orbital is dumb-bell shape. There are 3 types of p orbitals $\left(P_{x}or{P}_y,P_z\right)$ which are oriented along three perpendicular axes. The inversion operation on these orbitals leads to change in phase so these orbitals are ungerade.

The d orbitals are gerade because the inversion operation on these orbitals gives the same phase. There are 4 types of d orbitals $\left(d_{z^2},d_{x^2-y^2},d_{xy},d_{yz},d_{xz}\right)d_{xy},d_{yz}or{d}_{xz}$. The orientation of $d_{z^2}$ is along the z axis with donut like ring around x-y plane. The orientation of $d_{x^2-y^2}$ is along x and y axes. The orientation of $d_{xy}$, $d_{yz}$ and $d_{xz}$ are along x-y plane, y-z plane and x-z plane respectively.