The correct statement for this system, based on the graph provided, would be: C. "The potential energy of the products is lower than the potential energy of the reactants."
The graph in the image is a typical potential energy diagram for a chemical reaction. Point A represents the potential energy of the reactants, Point B is the peak of the curve which represents the transition state (the highest potential energy point along the reaction pathway), and Point C represents the potential energy of the products.
Given the options:
A. "The potential energy of the products is greater than the potential energy of the reactants" - This statement would be true if Point C was higher than Point A, which it is not based on the graph.
B. "The potential energy at point A represents the activation energy" - This is incorrect because activation energy is the energy difference between the reactants and the transition state, not the energy of the reactants themselves.
C. "The potential energy of the products is lower than the potential energy of the reactants" - This appears to be true as Point C is lower than Point A, indicating that the products have lower potential energy than the reactants.
D. "The potential energy at point C represents the activation energy" - This is incorrect because, as mentioned, the activation energy is the difference in energy between the reactants (Point A) and the transition state (Point B), not the energy of the products.