Show that the equilibrium bond distance between the

Question

Lennard-Jones potential (also called the 6-12 potential) is often used to quantitatively describe van der Waals bonding. This potential is given by:

E = 4?[(σ/r)^12 - (σ/r)^6]

where σ and ? are constants for a given atom or a molecule.

Show that the equilibrium bond distance between the molecules is given by r_o = 2^(1/6)*σ and that the bond energy (the value of the energy, E, at r_o) is given by -?. (Binding energy is negative. i.e., energy decreases compared to when the components are infinitely apart.)