What is bond order? Discuss its significance.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution

**Step 1: Define Bond Order**
Bond order is defined as the measurement of the number of electrons involved in forming bonds between two atoms in a molecule. It indicates the strength and stability of a bond.

**Step 2: Examples of Bond Order**
- For the oxygen molecule (O₂), the bond order is 2 because there is a double bond between the two oxygen atoms.
- For the nitrogen molecule (N₂), the bond order is 3 due to the presence of a triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms.

**Step 3: Significance of Bond Order**
The bond order is significant because it is directly proportional to the stability of a chemical bond.
- A higher bond order indicates a stronger and more stable bond.
- Conversely, a bond order of zero suggests that the molecule does not exist, as there are no bonds formed between the atoms.

**Step 4: Conclusion**
In summary, bond order is a crucial concept in understanding the nature of chemical bonds. It helps predict whether a molecule will exist based on the bond order value and provides insights into the stability of the molecule.