Bond energy is defined as the energy
- A. released when a bond is formed between two ions
- B. required to melt one mole of a covalent solid
- C. required to break one mole of a particular bond in the gaseous state
- D. stored in the nucleus of an atom
Explanation
Because bond breaking is always endothermic, bond energy values are positive, and the same amount is released when the bond re-forms. The gaseous state is specified so that intermolecular forces do not contribute to the measurement. Values quoted in data books are averages taken across many compounds, which is why calculations using them give approximate results.