My Potential & Kinetic Energy of Molecules

[fallenrose]

hi I'm taking chemistry through correspondence and just need to make sure iam answering this question rite. can someone please look over it and let me know. thanks.

list four ways in which energy can be stored in a molecule.

my answer- rotational enery, vibrational energy, transitional energy and nuclear energy.

which are potential

my answer- rotational and nuclear

kinetic are vibrational and tranistional

 

[chemisttree]

Are you being asked about the storage of energy by an electron in a molecule?

 

[fallenrose]

yes that's right

 

[chemisttree]

Electrons don't have translational, rotational or vibrational energy. That type of energy is a property of atoms or molecules. Electrons don't have nuclei so nuclear energy is not important. Electrons do have transitional energy, the energy given off or absorbed when electrons are promoted to or relax from higher energy electronic states.

If the question is concerned with molecules, then kinetic, potential, nuclear energy are valid. Kinetic energy is defined as the energy of motion (translational, vibration, rotational).

You seem to have a handle on the nuclear energy (potential) but what type of energy do you think is involved in an electronic transition?