The graph shows how potential energy changes as a function of the distance between two atoms. (LO 7.2)

What is the length of the bond between the two atoms? (a) 3.4 angstroms (b) 3.8 angstroms (c) 6.0 angstroms (d) 8.0 angstroms

Video transcript

Welcome back everyone. The relationship between change and potential energy and separation between two atoms is illustrated in the figure below. We have potential energy and killed joules per mole on our Y axis. And inter nuclear distance measured in angstrom on our X axis based on the figure, estimate the length of the bond formed between the two atoms. And we have the varying lengths. And angstrom is given by choices A through D. So we want to focus on our illustration given and we're going to want to focus on the point of this illustration where we have lowest energy and we would see that we have the lowest amount of energy falling at around this point here. So here we can say we have the lowest potential energy. And because energy is lowest at this point we would recognize that are attractive forces between the atoms would be maximized. So we can say therefore attractive forces are maximized between our two atoms. And this will correspond to our atoms being at optimal distance from one another. And because we know that our atoms are at an optimal distance from one another, we can therefore be able to tell our bond length between our two atoms. And so at this point we would be able to calculate that our bond length is a value that is kind of close to three angstrom. So looking at our answer choices below, we're going to automatically be able to rule out choices be D. A. And then we're left with C. And E. Where we would agree that choice C. Is much closer to three angstrom than choice E is. So we can also rule out choice E, meaning that our correct answer to complete this example is going to be that choice C. Being 2.71 angstrom is going to be the estimated bond length formed between our two atoms. Based on our given illustration. I hope that everything I explained was clear. If you have any questions, please leave them down below and I'll see everyone in the next practice video.