The Electronic Energies of the CH₂ Radical

The CH 2 radical is considered to have the bond angle of 140 degrees and the dissociation energy of 205 kcal. It may be possible to explain these values of the CH 2 radical by the calculation of its electronic energies, assuming both the s 2 p 2 and s p 3 electronic configurations of the carbon atom, and using the atomic orbital approximation. The result of our calculation shows that the ground state of CH 2 has the dissociation energy 9.25 eV (204 kcal.) and the equilibrium bond angle 140 degrees, the symmetry state of which being 3 B 1 having its nodal plane in the moleclar plane. If we compare the result of our calculation with the estimation given by Mulliken using the method of molecular orbital, it may be observed that there is a good correspondence between those two methods of approximation except a few numbers of term reversal.