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Ch.22 - The Main Group Elements
McMurry - Chemistry 8th Edition
McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMcMurry 8th EditionCh.22 - The Main Group ElementsProblem 22.26e
Chapter 22, Problem 22.26e

Look at the location of elements A, B, C, and D in the following periodic table:
(e) Which of these oxides has the highest melting point? Which has the lowest melting point?

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the elements A, B, C, and D on the periodic table and determine their group and period.
Recall that oxides of metals typically have higher melting points than oxides of nonmetals.
Consider the metallic character of each element: elements on the left side of the periodic table are more metallic, while those on the right are more nonmetallic.
Determine the type of oxide each element forms: metal oxides are usually ionic and have high melting points, while nonmetal oxides are covalent and have lower melting points.
Compare the oxides based on their ionic or covalent nature to determine which has the highest and lowest melting points.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Periodic Trends

Periodic trends refer to the predictable patterns observed in the properties of elements as you move across or down the periodic table. Key trends include atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity, and melting point. Understanding these trends helps in predicting the behavior of elements and their compounds, including their oxides.
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Melting Point of Oxides

The melting point of oxides is influenced by the type of bonding and the structure of the oxide. Ionic oxides, typically formed between metals and nonmetals, tend to have higher melting points due to strong ionic bonds. In contrast, covalent oxides, often formed between nonmetals, may have lower melting points due to weaker intermolecular forces.
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Metallic vs. Nonmetallic Oxides

Metallic oxides are generally basic and tend to have higher melting points, while nonmetallic oxides are often acidic and can have lower melting points. The position of elements in the periodic table indicates whether they are metals or nonmetals, which directly affects the properties of their oxides, including melting points.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

In the following pictures of oxides, red spheres represent O atoms or ions, and green spheres represent atoms or ions of a second- or third-row element in its highest oxidation state.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(b) Identify each oxide as ionic or covalent.

Textbook Question

Give one example from main-group chemistry that illustrates each of the following descriptions.

d. Polar molecule that violates the octet rule

Textbook Question

Complete and balance the equation for each of the following reactions.

d. C2H6(g)+H2O(g)→catalystheatC_2H_6\left(g\right)+H_2O\left(g\right)\overset{heat}{\underset{catalyst}\rightarrow}

Textbook Question

Consider the elements C, Se, B, Sn, and Cl. Identify which of these elements:

e. Forms a hydride with the empirical formula 

Textbook Question

Locate each of the following elements on the periodic table.

(f) Group 5A element that forms the strongest p bonds

Textbook Question

The following pictures represent structures of the hydrides of four second-row elements:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(c) Which compounds yield H2 gas when they are mixed together?