the covalent chemical bond: a model (3.6) Flashcards
what happens with energy when separate atoms are bonded to form a molecule?
a certain amount of energy is released to form a molecule.
are atoms more stable when they’re separate or in a molecule?
they’re more stable in a molecule because they are lower in energy with bonds than they are as separate atoms.
what does it take to break a molecule back into separate atoms? what is the term called?
a certain amount of energy, which is also the same amount of energy that is released when separate atoms form a molecule.
the term is called bonding energy - the energy required to break a bond.
is a mole of gaseous methyl chloride higher or lower in energy than its separate gaseous atoms?
it’s lower. Remember, it’s held together by 1578 kJ of energy so if it is hit with the same amount of energy, then it takes +1578 more kJ of energy to exist as separate atoms.
