The Potential Energy for the Interaction Between the Two Atoms

Multiple Choice

The potential energy for the interaction between the two atoms in a diatomic molecule is U = A/x¹² - B/x⁶, where A and B are constants and x is the interatomic distance. The magnitude of the force that one atom exerts on the other is:

A) 12A/x¹³ - 6B/x⁷
B) -13A/x¹³ + 7B/x⁷
C) -11A/x¹¹ + 5B/x⁵
D) 72A/x¹² - 72B/x⁶
E) A/x¹³ - B/x⁷