Question

Say you have a vacuum (imaginary, of course) with three hydrogen atoms, how do we determine which two will bond and which one will be left out? If the same energy is present (equally) for the entire reaction, is the priority given strictly to the two that are closer to each other?

Answer 1

In a vacuum with three hydrogen atoms, the priority for bonding is determined by the proximity and stability of the resulting molecule. The two hydrogen atoms that are closer to each other are more likely to form a bond.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a vacuum with three hydrogen atoms, the bonding will depend on the stability of the resulting molecules. Each hydrogen atom has one valence electron, and these electrons can form covalent bonds with each other. The priority for bonding is determined by the distance between the atoms and the stability of the resulting molecule.

For example, if two hydrogen atoms are closer to each other than the third hydrogen atom, they are more likely to form a bond. This is because the distance between the atoms affects the strength of the bond. If the two closer atoms can form a more stable molecule by bonding together, they will do so.

It's important to note that other factors, such as electron configuration and electronegativity, can also influence bonding. However, in a vacuum with identical energy levels for all atoms, the priority for bonding would primarily be determined by proximity and stability.