Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following compounds would you expect to have the highest boiling point?
A
MgCl2
B
SrO
C
SrCl2
D
CsI
E
LiBr
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand that boiling point is influenced by the strength of intermolecular forces. Ionic compounds typically have high boiling points due to strong ionic bonds.
Step 2: Consider the lattice energy, which is the energy required to separate one mole of a solid ionic compound into gaseous ions. Lattice energy is generally higher for compounds with smaller ions and higher charges.
Step 3: Compare the ionic charges and sizes of the given compounds. MgCl2, SrO, SrCl2, CsI, and LiBr all consist of ions with different charges and sizes.
Step 4: Analyze the charges: MgCl2 has Mg2+ and Cl-, SrO has Sr2+ and O2-, SrCl2 has Sr2+ and Cl-, CsI has Cs+ and I-, and LiBr has Li+ and Br-. Higher charges typically lead to higher lattice energy.
Step 5: Consider the ionic sizes: Smaller ions lead to higher lattice energy. Compare the sizes of the ions in each compound to determine which has the highest lattice energy, and thus the highest boiling point.