Hi I'm a chemist, my current work is with PFAS compounds, often known as forever chemicals. Please ask me about those, or anything else you are curious about related to chemistry. I will try to give you a solid response.

  • ZoomeristLeninist [comrade/them, she/her]M
    ·
    2 years ago

    good question.

    when you stretch the rubber band you are increasing the energy of the system. with enough stretching the molecule has enough energy for the chemical bonds to spontaneously cleave. you will still have one molecule but if you break it in two places you get two molecules!

    • ZoomeristLeninist [comrade/them, she/her]M
      ·
      2 years ago

      good question.

      when you stretch the rubber band you are increasing the energy of the system. with enough stretching the molecule has enough energy for the chemical bonds to spontaneously cleave. you will still have one molecule but if you break it in two places you get two molecules!