According to Molecular Orbital Theory, species with unpaired electrons are paramagnetic. Let us calculate the total number of electrons for each species:
- CO: 6 (C)+8 (O)=14 electrons. It has no unpaired electrons and is diamagnetic.
- O2−: 16 (O2)+1=17 electrons. Its electronic configuration is σ1s2σ∗1s2σ2s2σ∗2s2σ2pz2(π2px2=π2py2)(π∗2px2=π∗2py1). It has 1 unpaired electron in the antibonding π∗ orbital, making it paramagnetic.
- CN−: 6 (C)+7 (N)+1=14 electrons. It has no unpaired electrons and is diamagnetic.
- NO+: 7 (N)+8 (O)−1=14 electrons. It has no unpaired electrons and is diamagnetic.
Therefore, O2− is the only paramagnetic species among the given options.