H.O.M.O. (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) of CO molecular is : — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: In the molecular orbital description of Carbon Monoxide (CO), the sp-mixing of carbon and oxygen atomic orbitals strongly influences the molecular orbital diagram. Step 2: According to Coulson's molecular orbital model for CO, the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) is primarily a non-bonding sp-hybridized orbital centered on the Carbon atom. Step 3: This orbital contains a slight antibonding character, meaning that removing an electron from it (forming CO+) actually strengthens and shortens the bond slightly. Thus, option (a) is correct.