What is the effect of the following processes on the bond order in N-, and 02? (i) N2 → N+2 + e– (ii) 02 → O+2 + e–

The bond order in molecules indicates the number of chemical bonds between two atoms. It is calculated as the difference between the number of bonding electrons and the number of antibonding electrons, divided by two. Therefore, the effect of the processes described on the bond order in N2 and O2 can be analyzed by considering the changes in the number of bonding and antibonding electrons.

Let's analyze the effect of each process on the bond order in N2 and O2:

(i) N2 → N+2 + e– (loss of one electron)

In the process described, one electron is removed from the N2 molecule, resulting in the formation of N+2 ion and one additional electron. This electron removal affects the bonding and antibonding orbitals differently.

• Bonding orbitals (σ and π): The removal of an electron does not directly affect the bonding orbitals. Therefore, the number of bonding electrons remains the same.

• Antibonding orbitals (σ and π):** With the removal of one electron, one fewer electron will occupy the antibonding orbitals.

Since the bond order is calculated as the difference between the number of bonding and antibonding electrons divided by two, the removal of one electron increases the bond order by 0.5.

(ii) O2 → O+2 + e– (loss of one electron)

In this process, one electron is removed from the O2 molecule, resulting in the formation of O+2 ion and one additional electron. Similar to the case of nitrogen, the removal of an electron affects the bonding and antibonding orbitals differently.

• Bonding orbitals (σ and π): The removal of an electron does not directly affect the bonding orbitals, so the number of bonding electrons remains the same.

• Antibonding orbitals (σ and π):** With the removal of one electron, one fewer electron will occupy the antibonding orbitals.

As with nitrogen, the removal of one electron increases the bond order of oxygen by 0.5.

In summary, the effect of both processes (removing one electron) is to increase the bond order by 0.5 in both N2 and O2 molecules.