Textbook Question
Which type (or types) of crystalline solid is characterized by each of the following? (d) network of covalent bonds.
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Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement111
- Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions166
- Ch.3 - Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry138
- Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution127
- Ch.5 - Thermochemistry104
- Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms109
- Ch.7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements107
- Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding102
- Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories120
- Ch.10 - Gases122
- Ch.11 - Liquids and Intermolecular Forces79
- Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials102
- Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions99
- Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics153
- Ch.15 - Chemical Equilibrium83
- Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria109
- Ch.17 - Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria117
- Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment60
- Ch.19 - Chemical Thermodynamics109
- Ch.20 - Electrochemistry113
- Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry79
- Ch.22 - Chemistry of the Nonmetals52
- Ch.23 - Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry57
- Ch.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry7
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 12, Problem 14b
Which type (or types) of crystalline solid is characterized by each of the following? (b) softness, relatively low melting point;
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the characteristics given in the problem: softness and relatively low melting point.
Recall the four main types of crystalline solids: ionic, molecular, covalent network, and metallic.
Analyze each type: Ionic solids typically have high melting points; metallic solids are malleable but not typically soft; covalent network solids are very hard and have high melting points.
Focus on molecular solids, which are generally composed of molecules held together by intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds.
Conclude that molecular solids best fit the description as they are characterized by softness and relatively low melting points due to the weaker intermolecular forces compared to other types of crystalline solids.
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Types of Crystalline Solids
Crystalline solids can be categorized into several types based on the nature of the bonding and the arrangement of their constituent particles. The main types include ionic, covalent network, metallic, and molecular solids. Each type exhibits distinct physical properties, such as hardness, melting point, and conductivity, which are influenced by the strength and type of interactions between the particles.
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Crystalline Solids Structure
Molecular Solids
Molecular solids are composed of molecules held together by relatively weak intermolecular forces, such as van der Waals forces or hydrogen bonds. This type of solid typically exhibits characteristics like softness and low melting points, as the forces holding the molecules together are not as strong as those in ionic or covalent solids. Examples include ice and sugar, which can be easily deformed and melt at lower temperatures.
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Melting Point and Softness
The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it transitions from a solid to a liquid state. Softness refers to the ability of a material to be easily deformed or scratched. In crystalline solids, those with lower melting points and softness, such as molecular solids, often have weaker bonding forces, making them more susceptible to changes in temperature and pressure compared to harder solids like ionic or covalent network solids.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
What kinds of attractive forces exist between particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) in (a) molecular crystals?
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Which type (or types) of crystalline solid is characterized by each of the following? (a) High mobility of electrons throughout the solid;
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Indicate the type of solid (molecular, metallic, ionic, or covalent-network) for each compound: (c) Ta2O5 (melting point, 1872°C)
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What kinds of attractive forces exist between particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) in (d) and metallic crystals?
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Textbook Question
Which type (or types) of crystalline solid is characterized by each of the following? (c) high melting point and poor electrical conductivity;
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