Chemistry: The Central Science (13th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0321910419
ISBN 13: 978-0-32191-041-7

Chapter 8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding - Exercises - Page 335: 8.22a

Answer

$Na-Cl$ distance is longer than $K-F$ distance.

Work Step by Step

The attraction between 2 opposite-charged ions can be described by Coulomb's law. Here the electrostatic potential energy of 2 interacting charged bodies is $$E_{el}=\frac{kQ_1Q_2}{d}$$ $k$: Coulomb's law constant $Q_1$: the magnitude of charge of body 1 $Q_2$: the magnitude of charge of body 2 $d$: the distance between 2 bodies' centers Therefore, the attraction between 2 opposite-charged ions inversely depends on the distance between 2 bodies. In other words, the farther one body is from the other, the weaker the attraction between them is. That means the farther the ions are among one another in a compound, the weaker the attraction among them is, and as a result, the easier to separate them into gaseous ions. So the farther the ions are from one another in a compound, the smaller the lattice energy of that compound. The lattice energy of $NaCl (788 kJ/mol)$ is smaller than that of $KF (808 kJ/mol)$. So the ions of $NaCl$ are farther from one another than the ions of $KF$. In other words, $Na-Cl$ distance is longer than $K-F$ distance.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.