What molecules attach to a substance when it is broken in half?

Question

So, from what I understand (or better yet.. remember from chemistry), the forces that combine objects are basically covalent bonds. When I take a rock for example and break it into several pieces, what I basically did is break the covalent bonds of some of the material.

Once I break the covalent bonds of material, what molecules are connected to the newly created surfaces/molecules that had their covalent bonds broken?

Is it the other molecules that’ve been covalently broken, oxygen and other air molecules, or something else?

In: 0

Answer 1

You don’t break covalent bonds. Covalent bonds are what keep atoms in molecules. You’re breaking molecules and _nothing_ gets attached.