Suppose the interaction between two atoms has the effective potential energy curve shown below:

I have marked the vertical scale on this graph using an arbitrary energy unit we'll call bondits.
- Suppose we know that the system has 5 bondits of kinetic energy when its atoms are separated by $0.2 \mathrm{~nm}$. What minimum energy is required to break the bond?

Question

Suppose the interaction between two atoms has the effective potential energy curve shown below:
  
I have marked the vertical scale on this graph using an arbitrary energy unit we'll call bondits.
- Suppose we know that the system has 5 bondits of kinetic energy when its atoms are separated by $0.2 \mathrm{~nm}$. What minimum energy is required to break the bond?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

(Since the system's potential energy is -15 bondits at a separation of 0.2 nm, the
system's total energy must be (5 - 15) bondits = -10 bondits. To break the bond, we must
increase the system's energy above the peak in the potential energy at r = 0.5 nm. Since this
peak has an energy of 5 bondits, we must increase the system's energy by 15 bondits.)

Suppose the Interaction Between Two Atoms Has the Effective Potential 0.2 nm0.2 \mathrm{~nm}0.2 nm

Suppose the Interaction Between Two Atoms Has the Effective Potential $0.2 \mathrm{~nm}$