Question

Explain the reason for the potential energy level at each labeled point on the graph.

Answer 1

do you know what this is a graph of? the axes say "internuclear distance" and "potential energy", but do you understand what it's showing?

Answer 2

I don't really understand what the graph is showing. We are studying intermolecular forces, gas laws, and things like that. I don't see how this graph pertains to any of that.

Answer 3

here's another graph that has a little more detail on it

Answer 4

So eventually, potential energy will reach equlibrium regardless of internuclear distance?

Answer 5

sort of

Answer 6

what it's really showing is when the atoms are too far apart, the attractive forces aren't strong enough to keep them together in a bond

and when the atoms are too close, their nuclei are repelling each other too strongly for the bond to hold, so the "bond length" of a molecule is that low point in the energy graph, where the attractions and repulsions are balanced

Answer 7

what this does is change a chemical bond from a "stick" kind of connection into more of a "spring", where the atoms vibrate in and out slightly, almost like the molecule is breathing as the bond stretches and compresses slightly

Answer 8

So for point A on the graph, the atoms are still too close for a bond to hold? At point B, the bond is stable, as the attractions and repulsions are balanced.

Answer 9

exactly right. at point A, the atoms nuclei are pushing the atoms apart harder than the attraction of the nucleus for electrons can keep the bond together, so the atoms will be forced to separate and "fall" down the energy well to a more stable point, like B

Answer 10

Okay. And for Points C and D, the attractive forces continue to weaken as internuclear distance decreases. What exactly is potential energy? Why does it increase or decrease according to the forces of repulsion and attraction.

Answer 11

*increases