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Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
Chapter 8, Problem 31

Use data from Appendix C, Figure 7.11, and Figure 7.13 to calculate the lattice energy of KI.

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Identify the Born-Haber cycle for KI, which involves the following steps: sublimation of K(s) to K(g), ionization of K(g) to K^+(g), dissociation of I2(g) to 2 I(g), electron affinity of I(g) to I^-(g), and formation of KI(s) from K^+(g) and I^-(g).
Use Appendix C to find the enthalpy of sublimation for K(s) to K(g).
Use Appendix C to find the ionization energy for K(g) to K^+(g).
Use Appendix C to find the bond dissociation energy for I2(g) to 2 I(g), and then calculate the energy for I(g) to I^-(g) using the electron affinity.
Apply Hess's Law to sum the enthalpies of each step in the Born-Haber cycle, including the lattice energy, to solve for the lattice energy of KI.

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Key Concepts

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

Lattice Energy

Lattice energy is the amount of energy released when gaseous ions combine to form an ionic solid. It is a measure of the strength of the forces between the ions in an ionic compound. Higher lattice energy indicates stronger ionic bonds, which typically results in higher melting points and greater stability of the compound.
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Born-Haber Cycle

The Born-Haber cycle is a thermodynamic cycle that relates the lattice energy of an ionic compound to other energy changes involved in its formation. It includes steps such as ionization energy, electron affinity, and sublimation energy, allowing for the calculation of lattice energy using Hess's law. This cycle is essential for understanding how different energy contributions affect the overall stability of ionic compounds.
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Ionic Radii

Ionic radii refer to the effective size of an ion in a crystal lattice. The size of the ions affects the distance between them, which in turn influences the lattice energy. Smaller ions can pack more closely together, leading to stronger electrostatic attractions and higher lattice energies, while larger ions result in weaker attractions and lower lattice energies.
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