Stability of the species Li 2 , Li 2 - and Li 2 + increases in the order of

Step-by-step solution

Li 2 - < Li 2 + < Li 2 Bond order ∝ stability of species Li 2 = σ 1 s 2 < σ * 1 s 2 < σ 2 s 2 ; B . O = 4 − 2 2 = 1 Li 2 − = σ 1 s 2 < σ * 1 s 2 < σ 2 s 2 < σ * 2 s 1 ; B . O = 4 − 3 2 = 0 .5 Li 2 + = σ 1 s 2 < σ * 1 s 2 < σ 2 s 1 ; B . O = 3 − 2 2 = 0 .5 Li 2 + and Li 2 - both have same bond order,but Li 2 - has more number of electron in antibonding molecular orbitals (experience more inter electronic repulsions) and hence least stable among three species.