Question

What is the bond order of li2−? express the bond order numerically?

Answer 1

Atomic Number of Lithium is 3, so it has 3 electrons in its neutral state. Also, Li₂ will have 6 electrons. But the chemical formula we are given has a negative charge on it (i.e Li₂⁻) so there is an additional electron (RED) present on this compound. So, the total number of electrons are 7. The MOT diagram for this compound is shown below. According to diagram we are having 4 electrons in Bonding Molecular Orbitals (BMO) and 3 electrons in Anti-Bonding Molecular Orbitals (ABMO). Bond Order is calculated as,

              Bond Order  =  (# of e⁻s in BMO - # of e⁻s in ABMO) ÷ 2

              Bond Order  =  (4 - 3) ÷ 2

              Bond Order  =  1 ÷ 2
Or,
              Bond Order  =  1/2
Or,
              Bond Order  =  0.5