The following diagram shows the potential energy of two atoms as a function of internuclear distance. Match the descriptions with the indicated letter on the plot. (a) Repulsive forces are high between the two atoms. (b) The two atoms neither exert attractive nor repulsive forces on one another. (c) The attractive forces between atoms are maximized, resulting in the lowest energy state. (d) Attractive forces between atoms are present but are not at maximum strength.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the regions on the graph where the potential energy is very high, indicating strong repulsive forces between the atoms. This corresponds to the region where the curve is steeply rising on the left side.
2. Locate the point on the graph where the potential energy is zero, indicating that the atoms neither attract nor repel each other. This is where the curve crosses the horizontal axis.
3. Find the point on the graph where the potential energy is at its minimum, indicating the maximum attractive forces between the atoms. This is the lowest point on the curve.
4. Identify the region on the graph where the potential energy is negative but not at its minimum, indicating that attractive forces are present but not at their maximum strength. This is the region to the right of the minimum point but still below the horizontal axis.
5. Match the descriptions (a), (b), (c), and (d) with the corresponding points or regions on the graph based on the analysis from the previous steps.

Key Concepts

Potential Energy Curve

A potential energy curve illustrates how the potential energy of a system changes with the distance between two atoms. As atoms approach each other, the potential energy decreases due to attractive forces until it reaches a minimum, indicating the most stable configuration. Beyond this point, as atoms get too close, repulsive forces increase the potential energy, leading to instability.

Attractive and Repulsive Forces

Attractive forces occur when two atoms are drawn together, typically due to electrostatic interactions between charged particles. Conversely, repulsive forces arise when atoms are too close, as electron clouds repel each other. Understanding the balance between these forces is crucial for determining the stability and behavior of molecular interactions.

Equilibrium Distance

The equilibrium distance is the internuclear distance at which the potential energy is at its minimum, indicating a stable arrangement of atoms. At this point, the attractive and repulsive forces are balanced, resulting in no net force acting on the atoms. This concept is essential for understanding molecular stability and the formation of chemical bonds.