O22−:(8+8+2=18) O22−:(σ1s)2(σ1s⋅)2(σ2s)2(σ2s⋅)2(σ2pz)2(π2px)2=(π2py)2(π2px⋅)2=(π2px⋅)2
Bond order = 2Nb−Na=210−8=1 B2:(5+5=10) B2:(σ1s)2(σ1s⋅)2(σ2s)2(σ2s⋅)2(π2px)1=(π2py)1
Bond order = 2Nb−Na=26−4=1 ∴O22− and B2 have the same bond order.