Question

If the reaction 2HgO equals 2Hg + O2 is endothermic, which bonds are the strongest

Answer 1

In an endothermic reaction, energy is required to break the bonds of the reactants, and thus the products have stronger bonds than the reactants. In the given reaction, the breaking of the Hg-O bonds in HgO requires energy input, indicating that the Hg-O bonds are weaker than the Hg-Hg and O=O bonds in the products.

Therefore, the strongest bonds in this reaction are the Hg-Hg and O=O bonds.