Potassium superoxide () is a yellow-orange solid. What is the fundamental molecular orbital reason f — s Block Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The superoxide ion ($O_2^-$) has 17 valence electrons. According to Molecular Orbital Theory, the last electron enters the $\pi^* 2p$ antibonding molecular orbital, leaving exactly one unpaired electron, which makes the compound paramagnetic.