How to find the bond order of a given molecule (easy method plz!!!)
You can only find the bond order between two atoms, so you'll have to take each pair of atoms in the molecule in turn. Add up the number of electrons shared between those atoms. Divide by 2. That's the bond order. So, for example, we can draw a Lewis structure showing the electrons shared (and not shared) in a water molecule:|dw:1347559598507:dw| Here the left hydrogen atom and the central oxygen atom are sharing 2 electrons, so the bond order between those two atoms is 1. (We also say there is a "single" bond between those atoms.) Also the right hydrogen atom and the central oxygen are sharing 2 electrons, so the bond order between those atoms is also 1. The oxygen atom also has 4 electrons it isn't sharing with any atoms.
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