Question

What is meant by the term bond order? Calculate the bond order of: N2, O2, .O₂⁺ and O₂^-

Answer 1

Bond order is defined as one half of the difference between the number of electrons present in the bonding and anti-bonding orbitals of a molecule. If Na is equal to the number of electrons in an anti-bonding orbital, then Nb is equal to the number of electrons in a bonding orbital. 

= 1.5 Thus, the bond order of O₂^- ion is 1.5.