Enter the number of electrons in bonding MO and the number of electrons in anti-bonding MO to determine the bond order.
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Bond Order Formula
The following formula is used to calculate a bond order.
BO = ( EA- EB) / 2
- Where BO is the bond order
- EA is the number of electrons in the antibonding MO
- EB is the number of electrons in the bonding MO
To calculate the bond order, subtract the number of electrons in the bonding MO from the number in the antibonding MO, then divide by 2.
Bond Order Definition
Bond order is defined as the number of bonded electron pairs between two bonded atoms.
Bond Order Example
How to calculate bond order?
- First, determine the number of electrons in the bonding molecule.
For this example we will say there are 3.
- Next, determine the number of electrons in the anti-bonding molecule.
For this example we will assume there are 1 electrons.
- Finally, calculate the bond order.
Using the formula we can see the bond order is (1-3/2) = -1 bond order.
FAQ
What does a positive bond order indicate about a molecule?A positive bond order indicates that a molecule has a stable bond between atoms, as there are more electrons in bonding molecular orbitals (MO) than in anti-bonding MOs. This stability suggests that the molecule is likely to exist under normal conditions.
How does bond order affect molecular stability and bond strength?The higher the bond order, the more electrons are in bonding MOs compared to anti-bonding MOs, indicating stronger and more stable bonds. A higher bond order usually means a shorter and stronger bond, leading to increased stability of the molecule.
Can bond order be a fractional value and what does it signify?Yes, bond order can be a fractional value. This occurs in molecules with resonance structures where the bonding is not localized between a single pair of atoms but is delocalized across multiple atoms. A fractional bond order indicates partial bonding character, reflecting an average of multiple resonance structures.
