What is the Difference Between Ortho and Para Hydrogen?

The main difference between ortho and para hydrogen lies in the nature of the spin of protons in the hydrogen molecules. In ortho hydrogen, the spins of both protons are in the same direction, while in para hydrogen, the spins of the protons are in opposite directions.

Some key points about ortho and para hydrogen include:

• They are nuclear spin isomers, meaning they have the same number of protons and neutrons but differ in their spin configurations.
• The energy state of ortho hydrogen is higher than that of para hydrogen.
• In NMR spectroscopy, ortho hydrogen gives a triplet state, while para hydrogen gives a singlet state.
• At very low temperatures, hydrogen contains mainly para hydrogen, which is more stable. At room temperature, the ratio of ortho to para hydrogen is 3:1.
• Ordinary dihydrogen is an equilibrium mixture of ortho and para hydrogen.

Comparative Table: Ortho vs Para Hydrogen

The main difference between ortho and para hydrogen lies in the direction of the spins of the nuclei in the hydrogen molecules. Here is a table summarizing the differences between ortho and para hydrogen:

Ortho hydrogen molecules have both nuclei spins oriented in the same direction, whereas para hydrogen molecules have their nuclei spins aligned in opposite directions. The distribution of ortho and para hydrogen in a sample depends on the temperature, with higher ratios of ortho hydrogen observed at higher temperatures.