In a hydrogen molecule, the attractive and repulsive forces between the
atoms are balanced at_
A) 77.4 pm
B) 74.0 pm
C) 74.7 pm
D) 70.4 pm
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David Rosen
Attractive and repulsive forces between atoms
Discussion created by David Rosen on 31-Jul-2013
Latest reply on 07-Aug-2013 by David Rosen
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My understanding is that, as two hydrogen atoms approach, attraction is stronger initially but repulsion is stronger at shorter distances. Taking the simplistic view that protons and electrons are discrete particles, it seems to me that, no matter how closely the atoms approach, there is a always a configuration in which the proton-electron distances can be smaller than the proton-proton and electron-electron distances. Given this, why should repulsion be stronger than attraction at short distances?