| Ion/Species | Total electron | Bond order |
| NO | 15 | 2.5 |
| CN− | 14 | 3 |
| CN+ | 12 | 2 |
| CN | 13 | 2.5 |
Number of e− in NO=7+8=15
NO=σ1s2<σ∗1s2<σ2s2<σ∗2s2<σ2Pz2<π2Py2=π2Px2<π∗2Py1=π∗2Px0
Bond order =2(number of electron in bonding molecular orbital − number of electroninantibondingmolecularorbital)
BO=26−1=2.5 .
Number of e− in CN=6+7=13
NO=σ1s2<σ∗1s2<σ2s2<σ∗2s2<σ2Pz2<π2Py2=π2Px2<π∗2Py1=π∗2Px0.
Bond order =25=2.5
Number of e− in CN+=6+7−1=12
NO=σ1s2<σ∗1s2<σ2s2<σ∗2s2<σ2Pz2<π2Py2=π2Px2<π∗2Py1=π∗2Px0
Bond order =24−0=2
CN−= number of e− in CN−=6+7+1=14
CN−=σ1s2<σ∗1s2<σ2s2<σ∗2s2<σ2Pz2<π2Py2=π2Px2<π∗2Py1=π∗2Px0
Bondorder=26−0=3 .
CN− as highest bond order.