Question

Would you expect the O−O bond in O2 to be shorter or longer than the O−O bond in compounds that contain an O−O single bond? Explain. Check all that apply.

1)The greater the number of shared electron pairs between two atoms, the shorter the distance between the atoms.

2)As O2 has two bonding electron pairs, the O−O distance will be shorter than the O−O single bond distance.

3)As O2 has two bonding electron pairs, the O−O distance will be longer than the O−O single bond distance.

4)The greater the number of shared electron pairs between two atoms, the longer the distance between the atoms.

Answer 1

Inter nuclear distance between two atoms decreases if multiple bonds are
present.This is due to the increased force of attraction with nuclei
and electron pairs. So more the number of bonds between any two atoms
shorter the distance between atoms.
Thus the correct options are (1) and (2)

1)The greater the number of shared electron pairs between two atoms,
the shorter the distance between the atoms.

2)As O2 has two bonding electron pairs,
the O−O distance will be shorter than the O−O single bond distance.
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(3) and (4) are wrong because O-O single bond length is actually longer than
O=O bond length