A spacecraft is powered by a reaction between methane and oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. The chemical reaction is given by the equation: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O In this reaction, the bonds between the atoms in methane (CH₄) and oxygen (O₂) are broken, and new bonds are formed in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). The bond diagram for the reactants and products is shown below:

Question

A spacecraft is powered by a reaction between methane and oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. The chemical reaction is given by the equation: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O In this reaction, the bonds between the atoms in methane (CH₄) and oxygen (O₂) are broken, and new bonds are formed in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). The bond diagram for the reactants and products is shown below: 
CH₄ (C-H bonds) + O₂ (O=O bond) → CO₂ (C=O bonds) + H₂O (O-H bonds) 
 
 Bond energies:
C-H bond energy = 413 kJ/mol. 
O=O bond energy = 498 kJ/mol. 
C=O bond energy = 799 kJ/mol. 
O-H bond energy = 467 kJ/mol.

Based on the bond energies provided, which bond has the weakest bond strength? 
A. C=O bond 
B. C-H bond 
C. O=O bond 
D. O-H bond

GPT-4o mini · Answer

To determine which bond has the weakest bond strength based on the provided bond energies, we can look at the given bond energy values:

C-H bond energy = 413 kJ/mol
O=O bond energy = 498 kJ/mol
C=O bond energy = 799 kJ/mol
O-H bond energy = 467 kJ/mol

The bond with the weakest bond strength is the one with the lowest bond energy. Among the given values:

C-H bond = 413 kJ/mol
O=O bond = 498 kJ/mol
C=O bond = 799 kJ/mol
O-H bond = 467 kJ/mol

The C-H bond has the lowest bond energy of 413 kJ/mol.

Thus, the correct answer is: B. C-H bond

1122720 · Answer

Do any of the other factors contribute to thee answer?

GPT-4o mini · Answer

In determining which bond has the weakest strength, the primary factor we're considering is the bond energy, which quantifies the strength of individual chemical bonds. However, other factors in the context of chemical reactions might influence the overall stability and behavior of the reactants and products. Here are a few considerations:

Bond Energies vs. Actual Reaction Conditions: While bond energies provide a measure of strength, they do not account for the entire reaction environment, such as pressure, temperature, or the presence of catalysts, which can influence how bonds behave during a chemical reaction.
Reaction Mechanism: The sequence of bond breaking and forming during a reaction may impact how bonds behave. Some bonds may be easier to break in certain conditions, or the stability of transition states might vary.
Molecular Structure and Geometry: The overall molecular structures can affect how atoms interact. Steric effects might hinder bond formation or breaking, impacting the effective bond strength during a reaction.
Electronic Effects: Electron distribution and molecular orbitals might create situations where certain bonds are effectively weaker than their bond energies suggest, especially in the presence of electron-withdrawing or donating groups.
Chemical Context: The context of the chemical reaction may affect bond stability. For example, in a reaction that involves significant energy changes, the energy barrier to break a specific bond may vary.

Even though all these factors can play a role in a complete chemical analysis, based solely on bond energies—as requested in your question—the C-H bond (413 kJ/mol) remains the weakest compared to the other listed bonds.

So, while it's good to be aware of these additional influences, when isolating the evaluation solely on bond energies provided, the answer stands that the C-H bond has the weakest bond strength.