According to Molecular Orbital Theory, bond length is inversely proportional to bond order; as the bond order increases, the bond length decreases . To find the increasing order of bond length, we must determine the bond order (B.O.) for each species:
- NO+: This species has 14 electrons and is isoelectronic with N2. Its bond order is 3.0 .
- NO: This molecule has 15 electrons. Compared to N2, the additional electron enters an antibonding π∗ orbital, reducing the bond order to 2.5 .
- NO−: This ion has 16 electrons and is isoelectronic with O2. Following the molecular orbital configuration of O2, it has a bond order of 2.0 .
- O2− (superoxide ion): This species has 17 electrons. The extra electron further occupies antibonding π∗ orbitals, resulting in a bond order of 1.5 .
Comparing the bond orders: NO+(3.0)>NO(2.5)>NO−(2.0)>O2−(1.5). Therefore, the increasing order of bond length (the reverse of bond order) is NO+<NO<NO−<O2−.