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JEE Main 2021 · Chemistry · Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure · hard

Pairs has the same bond order but different magnetic behaviour (one paramagnetic, one diamagnetic)?

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Which of the following pairs has the same bond order but different magnetic behaviour (one paramagnetic, one diamagnetic)?
  1. A. N2\mathrm{N_2} and CO\mathrm{CO}
  2. B. O2\mathrm{O_2} and C2\mathrm{C_2}
  3. C. O2+\mathrm{O_2^+} and N2−\mathrm{N_2^-}
  4. D. NO\mathrm{NO} and O2−\mathrm{O_2^-}
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Answer: (B) O2\mathrm{O_2} and C2\mathrm{C_2}

Use molecular orbital configurations. N2\mathrm{N_2} and CO\mathrm{CO}: both bond order 33, both diamagnetic. O2+\mathrm{O_2^+} and N2−\mathrm{N_2^-} both have bond order 2.52.5 and one unpaired electron each (both paramagnetic). NO\mathrm{NO} has bond order 2.52.5 while O2−\mathrm{O_2^-} has 1.51.5. O2\mathrm{O_2} has bond order 22 with two unpaired electrons in π∗2p\pi^*2p (paramagnetic), while C2\mathrm{C_2} has bond order 22 with both π2p\pi2p orbitals filled and no unpaired electrons (diamagnetic). So O2\mathrm{O_2} and C2\mathrm{C_2} is the only pair with equal bond order but different magnetism.
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