Chapter 22: Problem 131
Arrange the following oxides in order of increasing ionic character: \(\mathrm{SiO}_{2}, \mathrm{~K}_{2} \mathrm{O}, \mathrm{P}_{4} \mathrm{O}_{10}, \mathrm{Ga}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}, \mathrm{GeO}_{2}\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
The order is: P鈧凮鈧佲個, GeO鈧, SiO鈧, Ga鈧侽鈧, K鈧侽.
Step by step solution
01
Understand Ionic Character
Ionic character is determined by the difference in electronegativity between the constituent elements of the compound. The greater the difference, the more ionic the compound is, with metal oxides usually being more ionic than non-metal oxides.
02
Identify Component Elements
Examine each oxide and identify which elements are involved: Si in SiO鈧, K in K鈧侽, P in P鈧凮鈧佲個, Ga in Ga鈧侽鈧, and Ge in GeO鈧. The oxygen remains constant in all these compounds.
03
Determine Electronegativity Differences
Use a periodic table to find the electronegativities: Si (鈮1.9), K (鈮0.8), P (鈮2.1), Ga (鈮1.6), Ge (鈮2.0), and O (鈮3.5). Calculate the difference for each oxide: SiO鈧 (1.6), K鈧侽 (2.7), P鈧凮鈧佲個 (1.4), Ga鈧侽鈧 (1.9), and GeO鈧 (1.5).
04
Rank Based on Ionic Character
Order the oxides from least to most ionic based on their electronegativity difference: P鈧凮鈧佲個 (1.4), GeO鈧 (1.5), SiO鈧 (1.6), Ga鈧侽鈧 (1.9), K鈧侽 (2.7).
05
Final Order
The final order of increasing ionic character is: P鈧凮鈧佲個, GeO鈧, SiO鈧, Ga鈧侽鈧, K鈧侽.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Electronegativity
Electronegativity is a chemical property that describes the ability of an atom in a molecule to attract shared electrons towards itself.
It's a crucial factor in determining how atoms in a compound will interact with each other. The difference in electronegativity between the atoms in a compound plays a vital role in defining the compound鈥檚 ionic or covalent nature.
For example, in the given oxides like K鈧侽 or SiO鈧, knowing the electronegativities helps us predict their behavior.
- Oxides with a large electronegativity difference between their constituents, such as K鈧侽 (potassium oxide), form more ionic bonds. Potassium (K) has a low electronegativity around 0.8, while oxygen (O) has a high electronegativity of 3.5, thus creating a significant difference.
- Smaller electronegativity differences lead to more covalent characteristics.
To calculate textbook examples of electronegativity differences, subtract the smaller value from the larger one. The greater this difference, the more ionic the bond.
In summary, understanding electronegativity is key to predicting how different elements will bond and the nature of the compounds they form.
Metal Oxides
Metal oxides are compounds composed of metal elements bonded to oxygen. These oxides typically form ionic bonds, especially when the metal is highly reactive.
They are usually solid at room temperature and often have the properties of bases in a chemical reaction.
Common characteristics include:
- High melting and boiling points, due to strong ionic bonds.
- Tendency to react with acids to produce salts and water, displaying basic properties.
- Many metal oxides dissolve in water to form alkaline solutions.
Non-metal Oxides
Non-metal oxides consist of non-metal elements chemically bonded to oxygen. These types of oxides generally exhibit covalent bonding and are often gases or liquids at room temperature.
In chemical reactions, they tend to behave as acids, particularly when they dissolve in water.
Key features of non-metal oxides include:
- Lower melting and boiling points than metal oxides because of molecular covalent bonds.
- Tendency to react with bases to form salts and water, highlighting their acidic nature.
- Generally, do not conduct electricity, as they lack free ions or electrons.