Photo AI
The melting point of non-metal elements depends on structure and bonding - Scottish Highers Chemistry - Question 3 - 2019
Question 3
The melting point of non-metal elements depends on structure and bonding. Using your knowledge of chemistry, comment on this statement.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The melting point of non-metal elements depends on structure and bonding - Scottish Highers Chemistry - Question 3 - 2019
Step 1
Comment on the melting point dependence based on structure
Answer
Non-metal elements can exhibit a variety of structures, such as simple molecular, giant covalent, or molecular crystals. The melting point of non-metals is influenced by the type of structure they possess. For example, diamond, a form of carbon with a giant covalent structure, has a very high melting point due to the strong covalent bonds that must be broken. In contrast, substances like iodine, which form simple molecular structures, have lower melting points due to weaker van der Waals forces between the molecules.
Step 2
Comment on the melting point dependence based on bonding
Answer
The type of bonding also plays a crucial role in determining the melting points of non-metals. Covalent bonding typically results in higher melting points compared to molecular or van der Waals bonding. For instance, the melting point of sulfur (S8) is lower than that of silicon dioxide (SiO2) due to the weaker interactions in sulfur compared to the strong covalent network structure in silicon dioxide.