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Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
All textbooksBrown 14th EditionCh.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical BondingProblem 73
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Chapter 8, Problem 73

We can define average bond enthalpies and bond lengths for ionic bonds, just like we have for covalent bonds. Which ionic bond is predicted to be stronger, Na—Cl or Ca—O?

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Step 1: Understand that the strength of an ionic bond is influenced by the charges on the ions and the distance between them, which is related to the bond length.
Step 2: Recall that ionic bonds are stronger when the ions have higher charges. NaCl involves Na⁺ and Cl⁻, while CaO involves Ca²⁺ and O²⁻.
Step 3: Compare the charges: Na⁺ and Cl⁻ each have a charge of ±1, whereas Ca²⁺ and O²⁻ each have a charge of ±2. Higher charges generally lead to stronger ionic bonds.
Step 4: Consider the bond length: Ionic bonds are also stronger when the ions are closer together. Typically, smaller ions form shorter, and thus stronger, bonds.
Step 5: Conclude that Ca—O is predicted to be stronger than Na—Cl due to the higher charges on the ions involved, which outweighs the effect of bond length in this comparison.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Some chemists believe that satisfaction of the octet rule should be the top criterion for choosing the dominant Lewis structure of a molecule or ion. Other chemists believe that achieving the best formal charges should be the top criterion. Consider the dihydrogen phosphate ion, H2PO4-, in which the H atoms are bonded to O atoms. (b) What is the predicted dominant Lewis structure if achieving the best formal charges is the top criterion?

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Textbook Question

State whether each of these statements is true or false. (e) The longer the bond, the more energy is stored chemical bonds.

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Open Question
State whether each of these statements is true or false. (a) An oxygen–oxygen double bond is shorter than an oxygen–oxygen single bond. (b) The C—C bond in ethene is longer than the C—C bond in polyethene.
Open Question
We can define average bond enthalpies and bond lengths for ionic bonds, just like we have for covalent bonds. Which ionic bond is predicted to have the smaller bond enthalpy, Li—F or Cs—F?
Open Question
Predict the length of the carbon–carbon bond you would expect if two H2C molecules reacted with each other by a combination reaction.
Textbook Question
Draw the Lewis structure for NO+ . Is the nitrogen– oxygen bond in NO+ longer, shorter, or the same length as the nitrogen–oxygen bond in NO? Explain. Draw the Lewis structure for NO+ .
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