O2 gas is chemically inert at room temperature because:
Correct answer: A. Atoms in the O2 molecules are held by a double bond
- A. Atoms in the O2 molecules are held by a double bond
- B. 0-0 bonds are strong
- C. The amount of metal in the anode
- D. All of the above
Explanation
Atoms in an Oxygen molecule are held together by a double bond. O-O single bonds have a bond length of 1.48 angstrom, while O-O double bonds have a bond length of 1.21 angstrom. Double bonds are stronger because they hold the atoms closer together and make them difficult to break. Hence, more energy is required to break multiple bonds as compared to single bonds. This stability of the oxygen molecule makes it chemically inert at room temperature. Option A provides the correct explanation based on this concept. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not address the specific reason for the inertness of O2 gas.
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2006 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
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About Bond Energy
Bond energy is the energy needed to break one mole of a particular covalent bond in gaseous molecules, while bond formation releases energy. Reaction enthalpy is estimated by subtracting the total energy of bonds formed from bonds broken, with attention to average bond energies and their limitations for specific molecules.
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