Bond Order ($$\text{B.O.}$$)

$$\text{B.O.} = \frac{N_b - N_a}{2}$$

Concept: Determines the net number of bonding electron pairs between two atoms, indicating the stability and strength of a chemical bond.

Notation:

• $$\text{B.O.}$$ = Bond Order;
• $$N_b$$ = Number of electrons in bonding molecular orbitals;
• $$N_a$$ = Number of electrons in antibonding molecular orbitals.