Mechanical properties of bonds (1 of 3)
Channel: Patrick LeClair
Date: 2020-03-30

The first of three mini-lectures on deriving mechanical properties from the energy vs separation curve for a molecule/solid.

In this first of three mini-lectures, I'll talk about ionic bond formation and the energy versus separation curve for a typical molecule or between two atoms in a solid. 

From there, in the second mini-lecture we will figure out the energetics of the molecule when isotropic compression is applied. Spoiler alert: the material is elastic for small displacements!

In the third mini-lecture, we'll figure out the work done during compression, which will allow us to determine the stress-strain relationship and determine the bulk modulus. 

Follow along in the notes here: http://pleclair.ua.edu/PH253/Notes/bonds.pdf