Bond energy increases with increase in no of atoms, thus C2 bond energy will be greater than O2 bond energy

Bond Energy of C2 is greater than O2 - Explanation

Introduction:

The bond energy or bond dissociation energy is the amount of energy required to break a bond between two atoms. The bond energy depends on the strength of the bond, which is determined by the types of atoms involved and the distance between them. In this context, it is important to note that the bond energy of C2 is greater than O2.

Reasons for the Greater Bond Energy of C2:

1. Bond Length:

The bond length is the distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms. The bond energy is inversely proportional to the bond length. The shorter the bond length, the greater the bond energy. The bond length of C2 is shorter than O2. The bond length of C2 is 1.242 Å while that of O2 is 1.208 Å. Therefore, the bond energy of C2 is greater than O2.

2. Bond Strength:

The bond strength is determined by the number of bonds between two atoms and the electronegativity of the atoms. The bond energy is directly proportional to the bond strength. The bond between two carbon atoms is a triple bond, while the bond between two oxygen atoms is a double bond. The triple bond is stronger than the double bond, as it has more bonds. Therefore, the bond energy of C2 is greater than O2.

3. Electronegativity:

The electronegativity is the measure of the tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself. The bond energy is directly proportional to the electronegativity difference between the two atoms. The electronegativity of carbon is 2.55, while that of oxygen is 3.44. The electronegativity difference between carbon and carbon is 0, while that between oxygen and oxygen is also 0. Therefore, the bond energy of C2 is greater than O2.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the bond energy of C2 is greater than O2 due to the shorter bond length, stronger bond strength, and lower electronegativity difference. The bond energy plays an important role in chemical reactions and is important to understand for the study of chemistry.