Acetylene in nature is formed from the thermal decomposition of long-chain hydrocarbons at high temperatures (1700 K). Acetylene is a hydrocarbon composed of two carbon and two hydrogen atoms. The decomposition reaction for acetylene is:
C₂H₂(g) → 2 C(s) + H₂(g)
Use bond energies to explain why this reaction is improbable. The bond energies are:
H-H: 432 kJ/mol
C≡C: 839 kJ/mol
C-H: 413 kJ/mol