- #1
devillenator
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Homework Statement
In a crystal lattice of MgO, the Mg is surrounded by 6 Oxygen atoms as shown.
Assume that the ions all behave as point charges.
If the system behaves as though there were separate interactions between Mg and each of
the Oxygen ions what is the total binding energy of the Mg ion?
Homework Equations
[tex]F_c = -K/a^2[/tex]
[tex]F=\frac{dE}{da}[/tex]
[tex]F=F_c+F_R[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
so I'm quite confused with this question.
I can find the coulombic force of attraction using [tex]F_c = -K/a^2[/tex] if i take a to be the equilibrium bond length and look up values for the ionic radii.
Now that i know the attraction force i can then work out the repulsive force as at the equilibrium bond length the attractive force is balanced by the repulsive force.
my problem is that because the forces balance the net force is zero , so what is the total binding energy of the iron.