Question

If an electron became excited, it could

Select the correct answer below:

jump from the sigma star (σ∗s) or bonding orbital to the sigma (σs) or antibonding orbital

jump from the sigma (σs) or antibonding orbital to the sigma star (σ∗s) or bonding orbital

jump from the sigma star (σ∗s) or antibonding orbital to the sigma (σs) or bonding orbital

jump from the sigma (σs) or bonding orbital to the sigma star (σ∗s) or antibonding orbital

Answer 1

If an electron became excited, it could

jump from sigma (s) or bonding orbital to the sigma star (^*s) or antibonding orbital

When an electron is excited it takes up some energy from outside and jumps to a more energy orbital. The excitation of electron takes place from an orbital having lowest energy to an orbital having higher energy.

The bonding molecular orbital always have lowest energy than the non-bonding molecular orbital. In case of 's' orbital the bonding molecular orbital is represented as s and the non-bonding molecular orbital is represented as ^*s. As the energy of ^*s orbital is higher than that of s, the molecule takes up energy which is used by the electron to jump from lower energy s orbital to higher energy ^*s orbital.