The potential energy (y) curve for formation as a function of internuclear distance (x) of the atoms is shown below. The bond energy of is:
(b – a)
(c – a)
The potential energy curve for the formation of a hydrogen molecule () describes the changes in energy as two hydrogen atoms approach each other . According to the sources, the minimum point on this curve represents the most stable state of the molecule, where the attractive and repulsive forces are balanced . The bond energy (or bond dissociation enthalpy) is defined as the amount of energy required to completely separate one mole of bonded atoms into gaseous atoms . In a potential energy diagram, this corresponds to the energy difference between the minimum of the curve (the equilibrium state, marked 'a' on the y-axis) and the state where the atoms are at an infinite distance (where the potential energy is zero, marked 'b' on the y-axis) . Therefore, the bond energy is given by the vertical depth of the well, which is calculated as .
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