bond energy vs potential energy confusion

[GomerPyle]

I need help clarifying the difference, if any, between bond energy and potential energy.

The stronger the bond, the higher the bond energy (which is the same amount of energy needed to break the bond), and the lower the potential energy (to be broken, since it is stable).

Is this correct? Before, I thought that bond energy was less between strongly bound atoms, which made them more stable, but apparently bond energy is the same as bond dissociation energy.

If forming a bond that is more exothermic (more heat released), doesn't that mean the bond is strong? So if more heat is released, how does it still have more bond energy than a weaker bond that releases less heat? Doesn't sound intuitive.

Thanks!

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[sazerac]

Bond energy is in reality a negative value. When two hydrogen atoms are at infinite distance (ultimate broken bond) their energy is zero. As they get closer together, their bond energy becomes more and more negative, as they release more and more energy to the environment.

You are just getting your signs mixed up, and using words like Higher when you really mean More Negative.

It's a common confusion, and in casual conversation people get pretty careless with these terms.

 

[GomerPyle]

Bond energy is in reality a negative value. When two hydrogen atoms are at infinite distance (ultimate broken bond) their energy is zero. As they get closer together, their bond energy becomes more and more negative, as they release more and more energy to the environment.

You are just getting your signs mixed up, and using words like Higher when you really mean More Negative.

It's a common confusion, and in casual conversation people get pretty careless with these terms.

Okay - so the stronger the bond, the more negative it is. What if a question asks me which bond has greater energy? Do I choose the more negative (stronger) one or the less negative one?

Also - what about potential energy?

Thanks! 🙂