Potential energy curve of a molecule

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of potential energy in molecular interactions, specifically addressing why potential energy increases when atoms are brought closer than the equilibrium bond distance and decreases when they approach the equilibrium distance. Participants clarify that repulsion leads to an increase in potential energy while attraction results in a decrease. The relationship between force and potential energy is defined, emphasizing that force acts in the direction of decreasing potential energy. Examples involving charged particles illustrate these concepts effectively.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of potential energy in molecular systems
  • Familiarity with equilibrium bond distance
  • Basic knowledge of electrostatics, particularly attraction and repulsion of charges
  • Concept of force as the negative gradient of potential energy
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of potential energy curves in molecular interactions
  • Learn about equilibrium bond distances and their significance in chemistry
  • Explore electrostatic forces and their effects on molecular stability
  • Investigate the mathematical relationship between force and potential energy
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, molecular physicists, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of molecular interactions and potential energy dynamics.

freedom856
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Does anyone tell me why the potential energy increase(becomes more positive) when two atom put closer to each other which is smaller than the equilibrium bond distance while potential energy decrease(becomes more negative) when two atoms put closer to each other (which is close to equilibrium bond distance (faraway to equilibrium bond distance)

That is why repulsion causes energy increase and attraction causes energy decrease?

Thank you
 
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your question is itself being answered by yourself...:-p
 
i want to ask why repulsion will cause energy increase and attraction will causes energy decrease, Do you understand?
 
Potential energy is by definition minus the integral of force over distance, or force always points in the direction of decreasing potential energy.
 
freedom856 said:
i want to ask why repulsion will cause energy increase and attraction will causes energy decrease

This is not true as asked. Both can be seen as energy increase (decrease) depending on whether distance grows or goes down. As repulsion is opposite of attraction, nothing strange that effects are opposite when moving in the same direction.
 
Borek said:
This is not true as asked. Both can be seen as energy increase (decrease) depending on whether distance grows or goes down. As repulsion is opposite of attraction, nothing strange that effects are opposite when moving in the same direction.

can you give some example to me for what you said? thank you
 
If you have two different charges, they attract each other. Separating them means doing work on the system, and system energy increases. However, if you allow them to get closer, energy of the system decreases. So, you have a system of attracting charges, in one cases energy goes up, in other energy goes down. Clearly statement "attraction causes decrease of the system energy" is wrong.
 

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