MDCAT Chemistry MCQ #869

Oxygen molecules exhibit paramagnetism while nitrogen molecules are diamagnetic. What causes this difference?

MDCAT Chemistry MCQ #869

  1. Question 1

    Q1. Oxygen molecules exhibit paramagnetism while nitrogen molecules are diamagnetic. What causes this difference?

    • A) Oxygen has paired electrons in p-orbitals
    • B) Nitrogen has more protons than oxygen
    • C) Oxygen has unpaired electrons in π* antibonding orbitals
    • D) Nitrogen has a lower atomic mass

    Answer: Oxygen has unpaired electrons in π* antibonding orbitals

    Explanation: O₂'s paramagnetism arises from two unpaired electrons in molecular orbitals. Distractor A incorrectly reverses this property.