Question:medium

Arrange the following in the increasing order of their bond order: O\(_2^-\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^+\), O\(_2^{2-}\)

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Removing electrons from antibonding orbitals increases bond order.
Updated On: Jun 16, 2026
  • O\(_2^{2-}\), O\(_2^-\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^+\)
  • O\(_2^+\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^-\), O\(_2^{2-}\)
  • O\(_2^+\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^{2-}\), O\(_2^-\)
  • O\(_2^{2-}\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^-\), O\(_2^+\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

To determine the increasing order of the bond order for the given oxygen species: O\(_2^-\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^+\), O\(_2^{2-}\), we need to understand the concept of molecular orbital theory and how it affects bond order. Bond order can be calculated using the formula:

\(\text{Bond order} = \frac{1}{2} (n_b - n_a)\)

Where \(n_b\)is the number of electrons in bonding molecular orbitals and \(n_a\)is the number of electrons in antibonding molecular orbitals.

Let us calculate the bond order for each species:

  1. For O\(_2\):
    • Oxygen molecule, O\(_2\), has 16 electrons.
    • Electronic configuration: \(\sigma(1s)^2\sigma^*(1s)^2\sigma(2s)^2\sigma^*(2s)^2\pi(2p_x)^2 = \pi(2p_y)^2\sigma(2p_z)^2\pi^*(2p_x)^1 = \pi^*(2p_y)^1\)
    • Bond order: \(\frac{1}{2} (10 - 6) = 2\)
  2. For O\(_2^-\):
    • O\(_2^-\) has 17 electrons (one additional electron in the antibonding orbital compared to O\(_2\)).
    • Electronic configuration: \(\sigma(1s)^2\sigma^*(1s)^2\sigma(2s)^2\sigma^*(2s)^2\pi(2p_x)^2 = \pi(2p_y)^2\sigma(2p_z)^2\pi^*(2p_x)^2 = \pi^*(2p_y)^1\)
    • Bond order: \(\frac{1}{2} (10 - 7) = 1.5\)
  3. For O\(_2^+\):
    • O\(_2^+\) has 15 electrons (one less electron in the antibonding orbital compared to O\(_2\)).
    • Electronic configuration: \(\sigma(1s)^2\sigma^*(1s)^2\sigma(2s)^2\sigma^*(2s)^2\pi(2p_x)^2 = \pi(2p_y)^2\sigma(2p_z)^2\pi^*(2p_x)^1\)
    • Bond order: \(\frac{1}{2} (10 - 5) = 2.5\)
  4. For O\(_2^{2-}\):
    • O\(_2^{2-}\) has 18 electrons (two additional electrons in the antibonding orbitals compared to O\(_2\)).
    • Electronic configuration: \(\sigma(1s)^2\sigma^*(1s)^2\sigma(2s)^2\sigma^*(2s)^2\pi(2p_x)^2 = \pi(2p_y)^2\sigma(2p_z)^2\pi^*(2p_x)^2 = \pi^*(2p_y)^2\)
    • Bond order: \(\frac{1}{2} (10 - 8) = 1\)

Based on the bond orders calculated, the increasing order is:

O\(_2^{2-}\), O\(_2^-\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^+\)

Therefore, the correct answer is the first option: O\(_2^{2-}\), O\(_2^-\), O\(_2\), O\(_2^+\)

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