Question

If the spacings between adjacent vibrational features in a photoelectron spectroscopy experiment decrease, changing by factor of 1/√2, when you deuterate the molecule being ionized, is it more likely that the orbital from which you are ejecting an electron is from a nonbonding orbital, a π orbital localized on a$\mathbf{C}-\mathbf{C}$ or$\mathbf{C}-\mathbf{O}$ bond, or a $\sigma$ orbital localized on a $\mathbf{C}-\mathbf{H}$bond? Explain.

Short answer

The orbital from which the electron will eject is 𝛔 orbital localized on a$C-H$ bond.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of photoelectron spectroscopy

Photoelectron spectroscopy is a technique used for determining the atomic and molecular levels and hence the ionizations energies or the binding energies of atoms and molecules.

Given information

The spacing between adjacent vibrational features in a photoelectron spectroscopy decreases and changes by factor $\frac{1}{\surd 2}$when the molecule being ionized is deuterated.

Explanation for ejection of electrons from 𝛔   orbital

The spacing between adjacent vibrational features in photoelectron spectroscopy experiment decreases by factor of $1/\surd 2$, when the molecule being ionized is deuterated, then the photoelectron is produced in the $15.85-eV$band and electron ejects from the$\sigma$ orbital localized on a$C-H$ bond.