question_answer

Give reason for the following: \[H_{2}^{+}\] and \[H_{2}^{-}\] ions have the same bond order but \[H_{2}^{+}\] ions are more stable than \[H_{2}^{-}\].

Answer:

                \[H_{2}^{-}\] has one electron in the anti bonding \[\sigma _{1s}^{*}\] molecular orbital due to which there is some destabilizing effect and hence is less stable than \[H_{2}^{+}\] ion (which has no electron in the anti bonding orbital).