Determining the bond order is key to comprehending a molecule’s bonding and stability. It reflects the number of chemical bonds linking a pair of atoms. For instance, the double bond in molecular oxygen (O2) signifies that the oxygen atoms are connected by two shared electron pairs.
Knowledge of bond orders enables chemists to predict the reactivity, geometry, and physical properties of molecules. This concept traces its roots to the 1931 discovery of Linus Pauling, who introduced the idea of bond order as part of his groundbreaking valence bond theory.