The table below shows the varying distances between pairs of atoms with the same electric charge and magnitude.

Pair of Atoms Distance Between the Atoms (units)
A 16
B 24
C 11
D 29

Which of the following pairs of atoms has the strongest electric force?
A.
Pair D
B.
Pair C
C.
Pair A
D.
Pair B

1 answer

According to Coulomb's law, the electric force between two charged particles is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that the closer the atoms are to each other, the stronger the electric force.

To determine which pair of atoms has the strongest electric force, we can look for the smallest distance because a smaller distance will lead to a stronger force.

Here are the distances:

  • Pair A: 16 units
  • Pair B: 24 units
  • Pair C: 11 units
  • Pair D: 29 units

The smallest distance is for Pair C, which has a distance of 11 units. Therefore, Pair C has the strongest electric force.

Answer: B. Pair C