If two covalently bonded atoms move farther than a distance of the bond length what is the potential energy of the atoms?

Answer 1

If two covalently bonded atoms move further apart than their normal bond length, the potential energy of the entity containing the two atoms is increased.

Answer 2

If two covalently bonded atoms move farther than the bond length, the potential energy of the atoms will increase. The potential energy is at its minimum when the atoms are at the bond length, and it increases as the atoms move further apart due to the repulsive forces between the electron clouds of the atoms.

Answer 3

it increases