Question

What’s the bond order of Oxygen?

(a) 3

(b) 2

(c) 1

(d) 0

This question was posed to me in an interview for internship.

This interesting question is from Molecular Orbital Theory topic in division Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Correct option is (b) 2

The explanation is: The formula of bond order is given by ^1⁄2(NB – NA) When NB is bonding orbitals and NA is the number of anti-bonding orbitals. In Oxygen, bond order = 1/2(10-6) = 2. When it’s zero the molecule cannot be formed.