The optimum bond length occurs when the potential energy of a molecule is at its lowest.
Bond length is also referred to as bond distance and it can be defined as equilibrium (average) distance between the nuclei of two (2) covalently bonded atoms in a molecule.
Generally, the bond length of a molecule is typically determined by the bond order (number of bonded electrons) and the potential energy possessed by the molecule.
- Potential energy refers to a type of energy possessed by an object or molecule due to its position (height) above the Earth.
Furthermore, the higher and stronger the bond order of a molecule, the shorter would be its bond length. Thus, the optimum bond length occurs when the potential energy of a molecule is at its lowest because thermal motion causes the two (2) covalently bonded atoms to vibrate about this distance.
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