Which of the following is true according to Coulomb’s law?
1. Stronger electrostatic forces are a result of less distance between particles and smaller charges.
2. Increasing the distance between two particles increases the magnitude of the intermolecular forces between them.
3. Stronger electrostatic forces lead to weaker bonds because electrostatic forces repel the particles.
4. Increasing the charge of two particles increases the magnitude of the intermolecular forces between them.
The correct statement according to Coulomb's law is:
1. Stronger electrostatic forces are a result of less distance between particles and smaller charges.
The true statement according to Coulomb's law is:
1. Stronger electrostatic forces are a result of less distance between particles and smaller charges.
According to Coulomb's law, the strength of the electrostatic force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Therefore, when the distance between particles is reduced or when the charges on the particles are smaller, the electrostatic forces become stronger.
To determine which of the statements is true according to Coulomb's law, let's review the law itself.
Coulomb's law states that the force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2
Where:
- F represents the electrostatic force between the particles
- k is the electrostatic constant (a constant value depending on the units used)
- q1 and q2 are the charges of the two particles
- r is the distance between the particles
Now, let's analyze each statement based on Coulomb's law:
1. Stronger electrostatic forces are a result of less distance between particles and smaller charges.
This statement is incorrect. According to Coulomb's law, stronger electrostatic forces are a result of larger charges and shorter distances between the charged particles.
2. Increasing the distance between two particles increases the magnitude of the intermolecular forces between them.
This statement is incorrect. As per Coulomb's law, increasing the distance between two charged particles decreases the magnitude of the electrostatic forces between them. The force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
3. Stronger electrostatic forces lead to weaker bonds because electrostatic forces repel the particles.
This statement is partially incorrect. It is true that stronger electrostatic forces can lead to repulsion between like charges, causing particles to move apart. However, in the context of chemical bonding, stronger electrostatic forces are generally associated with stronger bonds, where opposite charges attract each other.
4. Increasing the charge of two particles increases the magnitude of the intermolecular forces between them.
This statement is correct. According to Coulomb's law, the force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges. Therefore, increasing the charge of two particles will increase the magnitude of the electrostatic forces between them.
In conclusion, the correct statement according to Coulomb's law is: Increasing the charge of two particles increases the magnitude of the intermolecular forces between them (Option 4).