513.001 Molecular and Solid State Physics

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Physical
Constants

Periodic System
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LCAO for homonuclear dimers

Use the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) to construct the term scheme (i.e., the molecular orbitals and their occupations) for Li2, Be2, and O2

(a) Which kind of bonds occur in these molecules? (b) Which of these molecules are stable, which are not? (c) Which of these molecules are magnetic?

Hint: For Li and Be, it is sufficient to consider the 2s orbitals. For O, it is sufficient to consider only the 2p orbitals.