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1) The binding energy of a hydrogen molecule, H 2 , is delta, a positive number.

ID: 2244743 • Letter: 1

Question

1) The binding energy of a hydrogen molecule, H2, is delta, a positive number. This represents the decrease in potential energy of the system after two H atoms collide and bond, ie. if the initial state is two separate hydrogen atoms and the final state is a bound hydrogen molecule.


a) Now, consider a system consisting of only two, isolated hydrogen atoms. Show that if they collide, that it is impossible for them to form a hydrogen molecule. Work in a reference frame in which the final H2molecule is at rest. (Hint 1: do this by setting up conservation of momentum and conservation of energy, using the fact that this is an isolated, conservative system).


b) Given the proof in (a), you can

Explanation / Answer

it is never possible that two isolated hydrogen can be collided to get a single H2 molecule as in the given process the energy is absorbed by the process whereas in most of the combining reactions the energy is released in the process which makes the reaction feasibl e whereas the reaction which we are asked about absorbs energy which makes it unfeasivle .....


the toatal Kinetic energy of the system is = energy of the system

=1/2 [toatal mass ] velocity ^2 = 7.23*10^-19 J

from this we find the final velocity of the three comboined H2 molecules resulting after the collision