Average Bond Order - Video Tutorials & Practice Problems
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Average Bond Order represents the average number of chemical bonds between a pair of bond elements.
Average Bond Order
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concept
Average Bond Order
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Here we're gonna say that the average bond order is just the average number of chemical bonds between a pair of elements. Now, a single bond has a bond order of 1, a double bond has a bond order of 2. So a triple bond would have a bond order of 3. Now remember, as the average bond order increases, that means the strength of the bond will increase and the length of the bond will decrease. So we'd say average bond order and bond strength are directly proportional,
A single bond has a bond order of 1, a double bond has a bond order of 2, and a triple bond has a bond of 3.
Larger the Average Bond Order, stronger the bond strength and shorter the length of the bond.
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example
Average Bond Order Example 1
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2m
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Here it says, what is the average bond order of the sulfur oxygen bonds within the sulfide ion? So within the sulfide ion, we have 1 sulfur that is basically double bonded to 1 oxygen and single bonded to the other 2. The steps we take here, if given only the molecular formula, then draw one of the resonance structures. If multiple resonance structures are given, choose only 1. So let's just choose this first one. We're gonna count the total number of bonds between the surrounding elements involved, and then we're gonna divide the number of bonds by the total number of those surrounding elements. So how many total bonds do we have between sulfur and oxygen? 1, 2, 3, 4. So we have 4 total bonds and we're gonna divide it by the total number of surrounding elements. Who are the surrounding elements? Oxygen. So divided by 3 surrounding elements. So that's gonna be 4 over 3 or 1.33. So the average bond order of a sulfur to oxygen bond within the sulfite ion is 1.33. What does that mean? Well, each oxygen for sure is single bonded to the sulfur. But that pesky pi bond, because of resonance, it doesn't fully exist with this oxygen or this oxygen or this oxygen. The possibility is it could be with either of them. So they're going to share that one bond. So that one bond is cut into 3, so each one has a third possession of that pi bond. So that's why it comes out to 1.33. But just remember, just count the total number of bonds and divide it by the number of surrounding elements involved, and you'll always be able to calculate your average bond order.
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Problem
Problem
What is the bond order of the phosphate–oxygen bonds within the phosphate ion, PO43–?