Chemistry · Chapter 8

Bond Order and Magnetism

One small sum gives you three answers at once. Set the electron counts, read the bond order, then see the bond length it predicts and whether the sample sticks to a magnet.

The magnet test unpaired electrons decide it

N S pour it hangs in the gap

Bond order against measured bond length

Pick a species to begin.

Pick a species

Or set the counts yourself

(8 − 4) ÷ 2 = 2

The verdict

2bond order paramagnetic
Net bonding pairs2
Does a bond form?yes
Measured bond length121 pm
Measured bond energy498 kJ/mol
Pull in a magnetic fielddrawn in

Raise the bond order and the bond gets shorter and stronger.