Consider the species N₂^-, N₂, and N₂⁺. Which of these species will be paramagnetic?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine if a species is paramagnetic or diamagnetic, we need to look at the electronic configuration and the presence of unpaired electrons. N₂ has a closed-shell electronic configuration, meaning all the electrons are paired. Therefore, it is diamagnetic. N₂^- has one more electron than N₂, and the additional electron is in the singly occupied P orbital, which is unpaired. Therefore, this species has an unpaired electron and is paramagnetic. N₂⁺ has one less electron than N₂^-, and the electron that is removed is in the singly occupied P orbital. This removal of an electron does not change the pairing of the remaining electrons, so this species is diamagnetic. Therefore, the only species that is paramagnetic is N₂^-. The correct answer is choice C.

Consider the Species N2-, N2, and N2+

Consider the Species N₂^-, N₂, and N₂⁺