Actually, the bond formation is mostly related to a drop in the kinetic energy of those electrons. If it wasn't for this decrease the kinetic energy the bond wouldn't form, since the potential energy of two electrons approaching each other is always repulsive. The total energy of the system, which corresponds to the sum of the kinetic and potential terms, is what's actually lower.
1 year ago
| 1
RojasLab
MCAT/ACS-style question: Which of the following statements is TRUE?
1 year ago | [YT] | 12