Decreasing order of stability of O₂, O₂⁻, O₂⁺ and O₂²⁻ is:

8 2015 AIPMT-II Chemical Bonding and Molecular StructureMolecular Orbital Theory Easy
Decreasing order of stability of $O_2$, $O_2^-$, $O_2^+$ and $O_2^{2-}$ is:
A $O_2 > O_2^+ > O_2^{2-} > O_2^-$
B $O_2^- > O_2^{2-} > O_2^+ > O_2$
C $O_2^+ > O_2 > O_2^- > O_2^{2-}$
D $O_2^{2-} > O_2^- > O_2 > O_2^+$

Detailed Solution

Electrons: $O_2^+$ = 15, $O_2$ = 16, $O_2^-$ = 17, $O_2^{2-}$ = 18
Bond orders: $O_2^+$ = 2.5, $O_2$ = 2, $O_2^-$ = 1.5, $O_2^{2-}$ = 1
Stability ∝ bond order, so $O_2^+ > O_2 > O_2^- > O_2^{2-}$

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