Use molecular orbital theory to compare the relative stabilities of F2 and F2+.
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The molecular orbitals of F2 are;s(2)s*(2)s(2)p(4)p*(4)s*(0)
and the molecular orbitals of F2+ are:
s(2)s*(2)s(2)p(4)p*(3)s*(0)
Where s & p refer to sigma & pi bonding orbitals respectively,and s* & p* refer to sigma & pi antibonding orbitals respectively.
The thing to keep in mind is that adding electrons into antibonding orbitals destabilizes the molecule & by default,removing electrons from antibonding orbitals would stabilize the molecule.Since the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)is an antibonding orbital,then ionized fluorine(F2+)should be more stable.
and the molecular orbitals of F2+ are:
s(2)s*(2)s(2)p(4)p*(3)s*(0)
Where s & p refer to sigma & pi bonding orbitals respectively,and s* & p* refer to sigma & pi antibonding orbitals respectively.
The thing to keep in mind is that adding electrons into antibonding orbitals destabilizes the molecule & by default,removing electrons from antibonding orbitals would stabilize the molecule.Since the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)is an antibonding orbital,then ionized fluorine(F2+)should be more stable.
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