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I have a question on an intermolecular force between a pair of molecules.
The force is electrostatic and it is a negative of the rate at which
electric potential varies with respect to separation.
At equilibrium separation (= r0) there is no net force between the
molecules and their potential energy has a minimum value. An increase in
separation leads to an attractive force and a decrease in separation
produces a repulsive force. It is easy to see this from the force against
separation graph. But is there a good qualitative explanation why the
force is attractive if r > r0 and repulsive if r < r0 ?
The force is electrostaticand
their potential energy
The model described above is introduced in some high school books without
explanation. Linus Pauling was the first one to apply quantum mechanics in
chemical bonds.
Is it even possible to understand a chemical bond using classical physics?