Explain the MO diagram for NO molecule.

Explanation

(i) Electronic configuration of N atom is `1s^(2)" "2s^(2)" "2p^(3)`
(ii) Electronic configuration of O atom is `1s^(2)" "2s^(2)" "2p^(4)`
(iii) Electronic configuration of NO molecule is
`sigma1s^(2)" "sigma^(**)1s^(2)" "sigma2s^(2)" "pi2p_(x)^(2)" "pi2p_(y)^(2)" "pi^(2)p_(x)^(2)" "pi2p_(y)^(1)`
(iv) Bond order `= (N_(b)-N_(a))/(2)= (10-5)/(2) = 2.5`
(v) NO molecule has one unpaired electron, hence it is paramagnetic.