Question

Refer to Animation: Kinetic and Potential Energy. Which of the factors accounts for the higher potential energy of C-C and C-H bonds compared to C-O and H-O bonds?
A) The C-C and C-H bonds are strong, thus requiring a lot of energy to hold together.
B) The CO and H-O bonds are weak, thus requiring less energy to hold together.
C) The C-C and C-H bonds are weak, thus requiring a lot of energy to hold together.
D) The CO and wo bonds are strong, thus requiring a lot of energy to hold together.

Answer 1

Explanation:

The electronegativity difference in C-C and C-H atoms is quite low. This means smaller the electron cloud. This further means larger bond length that is electron's are further from the nucleus.  hence,  higher potential energy of C-C and C-H bonds.

On the contrary, C-O and H-O have large difference in electronegativity( O is high electronegative element) . This means smaller bond length. Electron's near the nucleus. Thus, lower potential energy of bonds.