Final answer:
Bond energy is the energy required to break a covalent bond and is indicative of the bond’s strength - higher bond energy means a stronger, more stable, and less reactive bond. It is used to predict molecular stability and reactivity, and to estimate enthalpy changes in chemical reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Bond Energy?
Bond energy is the energy required to break a covalent bond between two atoms in a molecule. This energy is indicative of the bond's strength and is typically measured in joules (J) or kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol). The greater the bond energy, the stronger the bond, indicating that the molecule is likely more stable and less reactive. Bond energies help us understand molecular structures and the reactivity of different molecular species. For instance, higher bond energies are correlated with less reactive bonds.
Usage of Bond Energy
Bond energy is utilized in chemistry to predict the stability and reactivity of compounds. During a chemical reaction, bonds between atoms are broken and new ones are formed. By knowing the bond energies, one can estimate the enthalpy change of a chemical reaction, except that using enthalpies of formation provides a more accurate calculation. When the bonds are formed, energy is released, while the same amount of energy is absorbed when the bonds are broken. Bond energy is also key in understanding the changes in the energy state between isolated atoms and atoms at the bonding distance.