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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Win,odd Dhamnekar on March 31, 2021, 11:39:37 AM

Title: Structure of molecule and energy of electrons
Post by: Win,odd Dhamnekar on March 31, 2021, 11:39:37 AM

  I attempted to answer the following question as follows:-

I computed the potential energy of four electrons located at the apices of a tetrahedron at a distance of 2.0 Å = 6.92e-18 Joules.

I computed the potential energy of four electrons located at the four corners of a square with edges of 2.0 Å =4.61e-18 Joules.

As four electrons located at the four corners of a square have lower potential energy than the potential energy of a tetrahedron, it is more stable.

Title: Re: Structure of molecule and energy of electrons
Post by: Orcio_87 on March 31, 2021, 05:09:49 PM

You are right. Second structure is more stable (longer distance reduces repulsion).