On decreasing internuclear distance below, the optimum distance (where potential energy is minimum), — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Understand that the potential energy of a bonding system reaches a minimum at the optimum internuclear distance (bond length), balancing attractions and repulsions. Step 2: If the internuclear distance is decreased below this optimum distance, the nuclei and core electron clouds are forced too close together. Step 3: This leads to a massive, steep increase in potential energy due to the sharp increase in electrostatic repulsions between the positively charged nuclei and between the negatively charged electron clouds.