Question

The minimum energy required to break the oxygen-oxygen bond in Oz is 495 KJ/mol. What is the longest wavelength of radiation that possesses the necessary energy to break the O- O bond in one molecule?

Answer 1

The longest wavelength of radiation that can break the O-O bond in O2, given a bond energy of 495 kJ/mol, is approximately 242 nm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks for the longest wavelength of radiation that possesses the necessary energy to break the O-O bond in one molecule of O2, given that the bond energy is 495 kJ/mol. To calculate the wavelength, we will use the relationship between energy (E) and wavelength (λ) given by the equation E = hc/λ, where h is Planck's constant (6.626 x 10-34 Js) and c is the speed of light (3.00 x 108 m/s).

First, we convert the bond energy into Joules per molecule by dividing by Avogadro's number (6.022 x 1023 mol-1):

E = (495 x 103 J/mol) / (6.022 x 1023 mol-1) = 8.21 x 10-19 J/molecule

Now, we can solve for the wavelength:

λ = hc/E = (6.626 x 10-34 Js)(3.00 x 108 m/s) / 8.21 x 10-19 J = 2.42 x 10-7 m or 242 nm

Thus, the longest wavelength capable of breaking the oxygen-oxygen bond in O2 is approximately 242 nm.