Ozone and oxygen molecule reactivity (1 Viewer)

[RachelGreen]

I read that O2 is more stable than O3, since to decompose oxygen its double bond has to be broken and that requires a lot of energy in comparison to the less energy taken to decompose the single (coordinate covalent bond) in the ozone. Therefore, O3 is less than O2.
But, what I don't understand is, shouldn't it take more energy to decompose the O3 molecule? Shouldn't O3 be more stable than O2, since it has a single coordinate covalent bond as well as a double bond in its structure?

Can anyone explain to me why O3 is less stable than O2? Or is it something the HSC syllabus dumbs it down for us

 

[Ambility]

The decomposition of ozone usually refers to the formation of diatomic oxygen. This mean ozone's double bond is not broken, only the coordinate covalent bond.

 

[BlueGas]

You have pretty much answered the question in the first half of your answer. When the coordinate covalent bond is broken down in ozone, it's not ozone anymore, hence it's less stable as you said, because it's easier to break the coordinate covalent bond in ozone than the double bond in oxygen.

 

[leehuan]

I read that O2 is more stable than O3, since to decompose oxygen its double bond has to be broken and that requires a lot of energy in comparison to the less energy taken to decompose the single (coordinate covalent bond) in the ozone. Therefore, O3 is less than O2.
But, what I don't understand is, shouldn't it take more energy to decompose the O3 molecule? Shouldn't O3 be more stable than O2, since it has a single coordinate covalent bond as well as a double bond in its structure?

Can anyone explain to me why O3 is less stable than O2? Or is it something the HSC syllabus dumbs it down for us

The coordinate covalent bond is MUCH MORE UNSTABLE than an ordinary double bond.

And in reality, that's not exactly the case. You actually have a resonance forming - the coordinate bond and the ordinary covalent bond interchange.

 

[RachelGreen]

What's a resonance formation?

 

[leehuan]

What's a resonance formation?

Like I said, the coordinate bond and the ordinary covalent bond interchange.

It's kinda like one minute oxygen #2 and #3 feature a coordinate bond from 2 to 3, then next minute its #1 to #2, and etc.

 

[someth1ng]

Like I said, the coordinate bond and the ordinary covalent bond interchange.

It's kinda like one minute oxygen #2 and #3 feature a coordinate bond from 2 to 3, then next minute its #1 to #2, and etc.

What you said is also technically wrong.

If you measure it, both bonds are absolutely identical. Resonance is NOT a swapping effect (that would be an equilibrium). The strength of both bonds will be the average of what a double bond and a single bond would be (approximately 1.5 bonds).

 

[Fizzy_Cyst]

What you said is also technically wrong.

If you measure it, both bonds are absolutely identical. Resonance is NOT a swapping effect (that would be an equilibrium). The strength of both bonds will be the average of what a double bond and a single bond would be (approximately 1.5 bonds).

Yep, this is a massive misconception.

Resonance is such a strange term to call this phenomenon, when nothing is actually resonating, lol.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Is this prelim physics?

 

[InteGrand]

Is this prelim physics?

No

 

[eyeseeyou]

No

I mean chem not physics soz

 

[InteGrand]

I mean chem not physics soz

If you were referring to resonance, it's not in Preliminary (or HSC) Chemistry.

 

[porcupinetree]

I mean chem not physics soz

If you were referring to resonance, it's not in Preliminary (or HSC) Chemistry.

(Although it is good to be aware that ozone has a resonance structure)

 

[eyeseeyou]

(Although it is good to be aware that ozone has a resonance structure)

is there any specific reason to this?