Force constants

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-004589",
  "term": "Force constants",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "Coefficients that relate the displacement of atoms from their equilibrium positions to the change in a molecule's potential energy. These constants appear in the quadratic expansion of the potential energy function and describe the stiffness of chemical bonds and the resistance to bond angle deformation. Force constants are determined from vibrational spectroscopic data and are expressed in units such as newtons per meter (N/m) for stretching.",
  "subject": "Physical and Biophysical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "intramolecular"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1978, 50, 1707. 'Definition and Symbolism of Molecular Force Constants' on page 1709 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac197850111707)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/force-constants/"
}