How many empty p orbitals are present in BeCl2?
Beryllium chloride (BeCl2) is a binary compound composed of beryllium (Be) and chlorine (Cl). It is a colorless gas at room temperature and has a linear molecular geometry. In this article, we will explore the number of empty p orbitals present in BeCl2 and discuss the molecular orbitals involved in its bonding.
The electronic configuration of beryllium is 1s² 2s², while that of chlorine is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁵. When BeCl2 is formed, beryllium donates its two valence electrons to the chlorine atoms, resulting in a covalent bond. The molecular orbital diagram for BeCl2 can be constructed by combining the atomic orbitals of beryllium and chlorine.
In the molecular orbital diagram, the 2s and 2p orbitals of beryllium interact with the 3s and 3p orbitals of chlorine. The 2s orbitals overlap to form a σ(2s) bonding molecular orbital and a σ(2s) antibonding molecular orbital. Similarly, the 2p orbitals overlap to form a σ(2p) bonding molecular orbital, a π(2p) bonding molecular orbital, a π(2p) antibonding molecular orbital, and a σ(2p) antibonding molecular orbital.
Now, let’s address the question of how many empty p orbitals are present in BeCl2. Since beryllium has only two valence electrons, it can donate these electrons to the chlorine atoms. After the donation, beryllium will have two empty 2s orbitals and two empty 2p orbitals. However, in the molecular orbital diagram, the 2s and 2p orbitals overlap with the 3s and 3p orbitals of chlorine, resulting in the formation of bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals.
In the case of BeCl2, the 2p orbitals of beryllium do not overlap with the 3p orbitals of chlorine. Therefore, the two empty 2p orbitals of beryllium remain empty in the molecular orbital diagram. Consequently, there are two empty p orbitals present in BeCl2.
In conclusion, BeCl2 has two empty p orbitals, which are the result of the atomic orbitals of beryllium not overlapping with the atomic orbitals of chlorine. This information helps us understand the molecular structure and bonding in BeCl2, as well as its linear geometry and properties.
