Video Transcript
Labeled in the diagram are the
chemical energies of three compounds, a through c. Which of the labeled compounds is
highest in energy? Which of the labeled compounds is
lowest in energy? Which of the labeled compounds is
most stable? Which of the labeled compounds is
least stable?
Based on the diagram included in
the question, this question is asking us to look at the energy and stability of the
three compounds. The axis of the diagram indicates
that the energy increases as we move up from low energy at the bottom to high energy
at the top. With this understanding in mind, we
can see that the labeled compound with the highest energy is b, the one furthest up
in the diagram, while the one with the lowest energy is a, the one furthest down in
the diagram.
The third and fourth questions ask
us to find the most and least stable of the three choices. Stability is not directly indicated
by the diagram. But if we know the relationship
between energy and stability, we can answer this question. In fact, energy and stability are
inversely related. Particles with more energy are more
likely to move and change, making them less stable. Particles without a lot of energy
don’t move around as much, making them more likely to stay the way they are or
making them highly stable. So, the choice with the highest
energy, compound b, is also the choice that is the least stable. Conversely, the choice with the
lowest energy, compound a, is also the choice that is the most stable.
To summarize our answers, we can
say that the compound with the highest energy is compound b. The compound with the lowest energy
is compound a. The compound that is the most
stable is also compound a. And the compound that is the least
stable is compound b.
