Final answer:
The correct statement about chemical bond strength is that a high bond energy means the bond between atoms is strong, as it requires more energy to break such a bond.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement regarding the strength of chemical bonds is: D. If the bond energy between atoms is very high, then the bond between the atoms is strong. Bond energy is the energy required to break a covalent bond between two atoms.
Therefore, a higher bond energy indicates a stronger bond, and the molecule containing this bond is likely to be more stable and less reactive. This principle is demonstrated by the fact that it takes more energy to break stronger bonds, such as triple bonds, compared to weaker bonds, like single bonds.
The strength of a bond can also be influenced by the size of the atoms involved, although it is not a direct correlation that large atoms form strong bonds and small atoms form weak ones, as mentioned in option C. Rather, factors such as the number of electron pairs in the bond and the nature of the elements involved play a more significant role. For example, bond strength typically decreases as we move down a group in the periodic table, even though the atoms get larger.