What can account for the increased potential energy when atoms are close together?

a. their opposite charges

b. electron repulsion

c. the breaking of a bond

d. proton to proton repulsion

The correct answer is C.  The breaking of bonds.

Explanation:

it is very much important to note that formation of bonds requires energy by the same way breakage of bond releases energy.

      The energy that is released by bond breakage utilized to do work or is converted to another form of energy.

   For example ATP contain 2 phosphoanhydride bonds.Breakage of these phosphoanhydride bonds releases potential energy called free energy which is used by the body cells to exhibit their biological functions.

water at room temperature is flowing through a pipe with pressure taps located 10 ft apart along one section of the pipe, which are connected to a mercury (s=13.6) manometer.

a. energy is absorbed in the reaction.

if in a given reaction the energy of products is greater than the energy of reactants it means that reaction is endothermic and during the reaction, the energy is absorbed by reactants. in an endothermic reaction, the products have more stored chemical energy than the reactants. and in this reaction the reactants are more stable than products before the compounds with less energy are always more stable.