Valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory O2 and N2

Hello Hooglandm,

See if this helps...

I understand that VB theory for O2 predicts that it is diamagnetic when in fact it is paramagnetic, but I don't know what other aspect of the O2 molecule is captured by the VB theory that isn't accounted for by MO theory.

I thought that MO theory was the more complete theory so I am not sure what could be captured by VB theory that is not captured by MO theory. Unless, the question is simply intended to be what other discrepancies for this molecule do the two theories have. Then I would say that the MO theory describes the electron density more accurately by accounting for anti-bonding.

Post Merge: 9 years ago

After asking for clarification the professor said:

It may help to draw a lewis structure of O2 and ask what parts of the Lewis structure are captured by VB and which parts aren't captured.