Predict whether a molecule will decay due to heat.

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on predicting molecular decay due to heat, particularly in the context of diatomic gases like hydrogen. It highlights that while there is no single temperature at which all molecules break apart, bond dissociation energies can be used to estimate the temperature at which a significant number of molecules will dissociate. The Boltzmann factor is suggested as a method to calculate the ratio of bound to unbound atoms, although it does not account for entropy effects. Additionally, bond dissociation temperatures are essential for understanding the thermal stability of various molecular bonds.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of bond dissociation energy and its implications.
  • Familiarity with the Boltzmann factor and its application in statistical mechanics.
  • Knowledge of entropy and its role in molecular stability.
  • Basic concepts of diatomic gases and their behavior under thermal conditions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research bond dissociation temperatures for various molecular bonds.
  • Learn how to calculate the Boltzmann factor for different molecular systems.
  • Explore the effects of entropy on molecular stability and decay.
  • Investigate the behavior of hard spheres in thermal contexts and their idealizations.
USEFUL FOR

Chemists, physicists, and materials scientists interested in molecular stability, thermodynamics, and the behavior of gases at high temperatures.

Tiiba
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I'm trying to understand the chemistry of stars. At what point do molecules really end?

I guess there would be no one temperature where every molecule of hydrogen breaks apart in unison, but there should be an equation that says: if a diatomic gas is held together by 100 kJ/mol, at a temperature of 5000 kelvin it will be mostly individual atoms.

So, is there? I can't find anything.

(And if it's a complex situation for real gases, is there a formula that would make the same prediction for two hard spheres held together by a rubber band, or some other idealization?)
 
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You could calculate the Boltzmann factor to figure out the ratio of bound and unbound hydrogen atoms. (Though, this calculation would be imperfect as it would ignore the effect of entropy)
 
You can look up bond dissociation temperatures for all kinds of bonds. Then you can calculate the temperature required to break those bonds.
 

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