---
title: "A student plots the potential energy as a function of internuclear distance for a molecule of \\(\\text{O}_2(g)\\), shown as the solid curve in the diagram. The student then wants to plot the curve for a molecule of \\(\\text{N}_2(g)\\). Which of the labeled dashed curves best represents the potential energy profile for \\(\\text{N}_2(g)\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119167/"
date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:32:38+00:00"
---

# A student plots the potential energy as a function of internuclear distance for a molecule of \(\text{O}_2(g)\), shown as the solid curve in the diagram. The student then wants to plot the curve for a molecule of \(\text{N}_2(g)\). Which of the labeled dashed curves best represents the potential energy profile for \(\text{N}_2(g)\)?

A student plots the potential energy as a function of internuclear distance for a molecule of \(\text{O}_2(g)\), shown as the solid curve in the diagram. The student then wants to plot the curve for a molecule of \(\text{N}_2(g)\). Which of the labeled dashed curves best represents the potential energy profile for \(\text{N}_2(g)\)?

![A potential energy diagram showing potential energy in kJ/mol on the vertical y-axis versus internuclear distance in pm on the horizontal x-axis. The origin is at the bottom left, with the x-axis extending to the right from 0 to 300 pm and the y-axis extending upward from negative values to zero. A solid curve represents O2(g) with a potential energy minimum located at an internuclear distance of 120 pm and a depth of -495 kJ/mol. Four dashed curves labeled Curve A, Curve B, Curve C, and Curve D show alternative potential energy profiles. Curve A has its minimum at 140 pm and -945 kJ/mol. Curve B has its minimum at 110 pm and -945 kJ/mol. Curve C has its minimum at 110 pm and -200 kJ/mol. Curve D has its minimum at 140 pm and -200 kJ/mol. All curves approach zero potential energy at large internuclear distances and rise steeply at very small internuclear distances. No other curves, labels, text, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787142757-N5swEz.jpg)

- **A.** Curve A, because \(\text{N}_2\) has a higher bond order than \(\text{O}_2\), which leads to a longer equilibrium bond length and a greater bond energy.
- **B.** Curve B, because \(\text{N}_2\) has a higher bond order than \(\text{O}_2\), which leads to a shorter equilibrium bond length and a greater bond energy.
- **C.** Curve C, because \(\text{N}_2\) has a higher bond order than \(\text{O}_2\), which leads to a shorter equilibrium bond length and a smaller bond energy.
- **D.** Curve D, because \(\text{N}_2\) has a higher bond order than \(\text{O}_2\), which leads to a longer equilibrium bond length and a smaller bond energy.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119167/*