Triplet oxygen is the ground state of the oxygen molecule. The electron configuration of the molecule has two unpaired electrons occupying two degenerate molecular orbitals. These orbitals are classified as antibonding, so the O-O bond is weaker than the N-N bond in molecular nitrogen, where all bonding molecular orbitals are filled. Additional recommended knowledge Unpaired electrons in degenerate orbitals can have the same spin, so the total spin S of the molecule is 1. This is known as a triplet configuration because the spin has three possible alignments in an external magnetic field. Because the molecule has a non-zero spin magnetic moment, oxygen is paramagnetic; i.e., it can be attracted to the poles of a magnet. The Lewis structure O=O does not accurately represent the diradical nature of molecular oxygen; molecular orbital theory must be used to adequately account for the unpaired electrons. The unusual electron configuration prevents molecular oxygen from reacting directly with many other molecules, which are often in the singlet state. Triplet oxygen will, however, readily react with molecules in a doublet state, such as radicals, to form a new radical. Conservation of spin quantum number would require a triplet transition state in a reaction of triplet oxygen with a closed shell (a molecule in a singlet state). The extra energy required is sufficient to prevent direct reaction at ambient temperatures with all but the most reactive substrates, e.g. white phosphorus. At higher temperatures or in the presence of suitable catalysts the reaction proceeds more readily. For instance, most flammable substances are characterised by an autoignition temperature at which they will undergo combustion in air without an external flame or spark. Singlet oxygen, where the electron spins are opposed in a higher energy state, is many times more reactive than triplet oxygen, and extremely hazardous to organic matter. It is used for the extermination of heavy infestations of persistent pests in houses and buildings. References- http://missouri.edu/~chemrg/wade4e/chapter15/dioxygen_t.html
- http://meta-synthesis.com/webbook/16_diradical/diradical.html
| FAQs
The ground state of dioxygen is known as triplet oxygen, 3[O 2], because it has two unpaired electrons. The first excited state, singlet oxygen, 1[O 2], has no unpaired electrons and is metastable.
What is the difference between singlet and triplet oxygen? ›
The singlet has only one possible arrangement of electron spins with a total quantum spin of 0, while the triplet has three possible arrangements of electron spins with a total quantum spin of 1, corresponding to three degenerate states.
What is 3 oxygen called? ›
Ozone is a gas that is naturally present in our atmosphere. Each ozone molecule contains three atoms of oxygen and is denoted chemically as O3.
What is meant by singlet oxygen? ›
Singlet oxygen is an excited state of oxygen (O2) that is produced through various processes such as photochemical, thermal, chemical, or enzymatic activation. It is a highly reactive oxidant that can readily oxidize cellular components and is occasionally present in biological systems.
What causes a triplet state? ›
A triplet state occurs in cases where the spins of two unpaired electrons, each having spin s = 1/2, align to give S = 1, in contrast to the more common case of two electrons aligning oppositely to give S = 0, a spin singlet.
What is the triplet state? ›
A triplet state is an electronic state in which two electrons in different molecular orbitals have parallel spins, as shown in Fig. 4.35. The name “triplet” reflects that there are three triplet sublevels as discussed earlier (see Section 4.15. 1). These sublevels are degenerate only for spherical molecular symmetry.
What does 3 oxygen mean? ›
Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is both a natural and a man-made product that occurs in the Earth's upper atmosphere. (the stratosphere) and lower atmosphere (the troposphere). Depending on where it is in the atmosphere, ozone affects life on Earth in either good or bad ways.
What does 3 O2 mean? ›
O2 stands fir oxygen molecule that is present in atmosphere. 4. 3O2 stands for three oxygen molecule.
Can oxygen be 3? ›
Ultraviolet light (UV) splits O2 molecules into single oxygen atoms. The single oxygen atoms latch onto O2 molecules to form O3 (the chemical formula for ozone). The stratosphere has higher concentrations of O3 because there is more UV present.
Can we breathe singlet oxygen? ›
Traditionally, oxygen therapy is done by breathing air with high oxygen concentration. Alternatively, breathing singlet oxygen-enriched atmospheric air has been shown to also be effective, without the need for expensive and dangerous oxygen tank.
Singlet oxygen, an electronically excited form of molecular oxygen, may be generated photochemically or in dark reactions in vivo. Singlet oxygen is not only toxic to cells and impairs signaling events but is also capable of eliciting a cellular stress response.
Why is triplet oxygen more stable? ›
The triplet state is more stable than the singlet state because it has more unpaired electrons. The triplet state has three unpaired electrons, while the singlet state only has one unpaired electron. The triplet state is also lower in energy than the singlet state.
What is the difference between singlet and triplet states? ›
The main difference between singlet and triplet states is that the triplet state is more stable than the singlet state. This is because triplet states have two unpaired electrons, while singlet states only have one unpaired electron. The triplet state is also higher in energy than the singlet state.
What is the difference between doublet and triplet state? ›
In contrast, a doublet state contains one unpaired electron and shows splitting of spectral lines into a doublet, and a triplet state has two unpaired electrons and shows threefold splitting of spectral lines. Examples of atoms in singlet, doublet, and triplet states.
When can oxygen have a triple bond? ›
Oxygen cannot make a triple bond because even in its hybridized atomic orbital forms, it never has two available p-orbitals to make a triple bond.
What is triplet state absorption? ›
In a triplet state the excited electron is no longer paired with the ground state electron; that is, they are parallel (same spin). Since excitation to a triplet state involves an additional "forbidden" spin transition, it is less probable that a triplet state will form when the molecule absorbs radiation.
