My Notes
Categories
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Course Level
Topics Covered
Subdiscipline
Description
http://firstyear.chem.usyd.edu.au/calculators/mo_diagrams.shtml
Flash based tools to help with the construction of MO diagrams:
- "energy levels" shows how the form of the bonding and antibonding orbitals, the bond order and atomic charges vary in a diatomic molecule with the electronegativity of the two atoms involved
- "Molecular orbital diagram maker" shows how a complex MO diagram can be made by a drag and drop approach using symmetry adapted components
Learning Goals
Using these tools, a student should be able to:
- explain how the bonding between two atoms varies with their electronegativity in terms of the bond order between them and their charges
- construct MO diagrams for typical inorganic molecules and complexes
Implementation Notes
The 'energy levels' tool is useful in lectures as it shows the relationship between the molecular orbital diagram and the bond character of a polar covalent bond and combines a graphical and a numerical approach.
The 'MO diagram maker' is useful as for students for practice and as a self-test of their understanding.
Time Required
"energy levels" takes 5-10 minutes. "MO diagram maker is designed to take as long as the student requires.
Evaluation
Evaluation Methods
Through in-class discussion and through performance in tutorials.
Creative Commons License
CC0
I had stumbled upon this site a while back; nice to see it appear here! A useful companion is Flick Coleman's "How molecular orbitals change..." page: https://www.ionicviper.org/web-resources/how-molecular-orbitals-change-…
Adam
This is good. Students often get the Lewis structures and VSEPR because they are "visual." MO is such a challenge for students. I think this could be helpful.
Sibrina Collins, PhD College of Wooster
The link appears to be broken, but I found a number of resources at https://scilearn.sydney.edu.au/fychemistry/iChem/ but many require Adobe Flash