Which Factor Determines Whether An Even-Electron System Is Diamagnetic Or Paramagnetic?

Which Factor Determines Whether An Even-Electron System Is Diamagnetic Or Paramagnetic?

• A. Mass
• B. Crystal Structure
• C. Electron Configuration
• D. Energy Diagram

Answer: (D)

Magnetic behavior depends on the number of unpaired electrons. For an even-electron system, whether all electrons end up paired or some remain unpaired is decided by how the available orbitals are filled, which is shown in the energy diagram. This diagram lays out the ordering of orbital energies and, through rules like Hund’s rule and the Pauli principle, indicates whether electrons preferentially stay unpaired in separate orbitals or pair up in the same orbital. If the energy diagram shows all electrons paired in the orbitals, there are no unpaired electrons and the species is diamagnetic. If it reveals unpaired electrons, the species is paramagnetic. For example, Be ends up with all electrons paired in its orbitals, so it is diamagnetic, whereas O2 has unpaired electrons in its molecular orbital diagram, making it paramagnetic.

Magnetic behavior depends on the number of unpaired electrons. For an even-electron system, whether all electrons end up paired or some remain unpaired is decided by how the available orbitals are filled, which is shown in the energy diagram. This diagram lays out the ordering of orbital energies and, through rules like Hund’s rule and the Pauli principle, indicates whether electrons preferentially stay unpaired in separate orbitals or pair up in the same orbital. If the energy diagram shows all electrons paired in the orbitals, there are no unpaired electrons and the species is diamagnetic. If it reveals unpaired electrons, the species is paramagnetic. For example, Be ends up with all electrons paired in its orbitals, so it is diamagnetic, whereas O2 has unpaired electrons in its molecular orbital diagram, making it paramagnetic.