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Q. How would $N—N$ bond distance or $O—O$ bond distance change when $N_2$ changes to $N_2^+$ and $O_2$ changes to $O_2^+$?

Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Solution:

When $N_2^+$ is formed from $N_2$, the electron is lost from the bonding molecular orbital and thus the bond order decreases. Consequently, the bond distance increases. When $O_2^+$ is formed, the electron is lost from an antibonding molecular orbital. Obviously, the bond order increases and the bond distance decreases.