---
title: "The potential energy of a system of two chlorine atoms as a function of internuclear distance is represented by the solid curve labeled \\(\\text{Cl}_2\\) in the graph below.  Which of the dashed curves best represents the potential energy of a system of two bromine atoms, \\(\\text{Br}_2\\), as a function of internuclear distance, and why?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121419/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T05:02:11+00:00"
---

# The potential energy of a system of two chlorine atoms as a function of internuclear distance is represented by the solid curve labeled \(\text{Cl}_2\) in the graph below.

Which of the dashed curves best represents the potential energy of a system of two bromine atoms, \(\text{Br}_2\), as a function of internuclear distance, and why?

The potential energy of a system of two chlorine atoms as a function of internuclear distance is represented by the solid curve labeled \(\text{Cl}_2\) in the graph below.

Which of the dashed curves best represents the potential energy of a system of two bromine atoms, \(\text{Br}_2\), as a function of internuclear distance, and why?

![A potential energy graph plotted on grayscale axes. The horizontal axis is labeled Internuclear Distance (pm). The vertical axis is labeled Potential Energy (kJ/mol), with a horizontal dashed reference line indicating 0 kJ/mol. A solid black curve is labeled Cl2; its minimum lies in the negative potential energy region at (200 pm, -240 kJ/mol). Four dashed curves are labeled Curve W, Curve X, Curve Y, and Curve Z. Curve W has a minimum at a smaller internuclear distance and a more negative potential energy than Cl2. Curve X has a minimum at a larger internuclear distance and a less negative potential energy than Cl2. Curve Y has a minimum at a larger internuclear distance and a more negative potential energy than Cl2. Curve Z has a minimum at a smaller internuclear distance and a less negative potential energy than Cl2. No other curves, gridlines, labels, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787461330-JQur5A.jpg)

- **A.** Curve W, because each \(\text{Br}\) atom has a larger nuclear charge that attracts the bonding electrons more strongly, resulting in a shorter bond length and a greater bond energy.
- **B.** Curve X, because \(\text{Br}\) has a larger atomic radius than \(\text{Cl}\), resulting in a longer bond length and a weaker bond with a shallower potential energy well.
- **C.** Curve Y, because \(\text{Br}_2\) has more electrons and stronger dispersion forces than \(\text{Cl}_2\), resulting in a longer bond length and a greater bond energy.
- **D.** Curve Z, because the additional electron shells in \(\text{Br}\) create greater core electron repulsion that compresses the bond, resulting in a shorter bond length and a weaker bond.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121419/*