Home▸Chemistry & Materials▸Molecular Orbital Theory: Why O2 Is Magnetic and He2 Isn't Real

⚛️ Molecular Orbital Theory Lab

Build the molecular orbital diagram of a diatomic molecule in 3D, fill bonding and antibonding orbitals electron by electron, and see bond order and magnetism update live.

Chemistry & Materials3DModerate60 FPS⚡ Plasma

Combine two atoms' orbitals into a 3D molecular orbital energy ladder, watch electrons fill bonding and antibonding clouds in order, and read off the resulting bond order and magnetic behaviour.

🔬 What It Demonstrates

Atomic orbitals combine into bonding (σ, π) and antibonding (σ*, π*) molecular orbitals. Electrons fill from lowest energy up, obeying Hund's rule in the degenerate π pair — the exact mechanism behind O₂'s paramagnetism and He₂'s non-existence.

🎮 How to Use

Pick a diatomic molecule from H₂ to Ne₂, adjust bond length to see lobe overlap change, and watch bond order and magnetism update instantly. Replay the fill animation to see Aufbau and Hund's rule in action.

💡 Did You Know?

Liquid oxygen is visibly attracted to a strong magnet because of the two unpaired electrons in its π2p* orbitals — a property Lewis dot structures cannot explain but molecular orbital theory predicts exactly.

⚙ Under the hood

Interactive 3D molecular orbital diagram builder where users combine atomic orbitals for diatomic molecules and watch bonding and antibonding orbitals fill, revealing bond order and magnetic behaviour.

molecular-orbital-theorybonding-antibondingparamagnetismquantum-chemistrybond-orderchemistry

3D · Three.js / WebGL renderer · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install