Separation energy ionic compounds

To understand why a crystal of sodium chloride, an ionic compound, has a lower energy than widely separated sodium and chlorine atoms, we picture the formation of the solid as taking place in three steps sodium atoms release electrons, these electrons attach to chlorine atoms, and then the resulting cations and anions clump together as a crystal. Chemists often analyze complex processes by breaking them down into simpler steps such as these, and often consider hypothetical steps (steps that do not actually occur). 

For a given molecule and a given intemuclear separation a would have a definite value, such as to make the energy level for P+ lie as low as possible. If a happens to be nearly 1 for the equilibrium state of the molecule, it would be convenient to say that the bond is an electron-pair bond if a is nearly zero, it could be called an ionic bond. This definition is somewhat unsatisfactory in that it does not depend on easily observable quantities. For example, a compound which is ionic by the above definition might dissociate adiabatically into neutral atoms, the value of a changing from nearly zero to unity as the nuclei separate, and it would do this in case the electron affinity of X were less than the ionization potential of M. HF is an example of such a compound. There is evidence, given bdow, that the normal molecule approximates an ionic compound yet it would dissociate adiabatically into neutral F and H.13... 

The table shows the lattice energy for some ionic compounds. Based on these data, which of these compounds would require the most energy to separate the bonded ions ... 

From the standpoint of energy, the processes of separating the crystal lattice and solvating the ions can be related by means of a thermochemical cycle of the Born-Haber type. For an ionic compound MX, the cycle can be shown as follows ... 

In order for an ionic compound to dissolve, the Madelung energy or electrostatic attraction between the ions in the lattice must be overcome. In a solution in which the ions are separated by molecules of a solvent with a high dielectric constant ( H 0 81.7 ) the attractive force will be considerably less. The process of solution of an ionic compound in water may be considered by a Bom-Haber type of cycle. The overall enthalpy of the process is the sum of two terms, the enthalpy of dissociating the ions from the lattice (the lattice energy) and the enthalpy of introducing the dissociated ions into the solvent (the solvation energy) ... 

It is a remarkable thing for an ionic compound to dissolve in water. You probably learned at some point that opposite charges attract each other. The energy cost of separating positively charged cations from negatively charged anions is immense. Dissolution occurs only because water interacts very effectively with ions. We will explore this phenomenon more fully in chapter 8. For now, however, you just need to accept that when ionic compounds dissolve in water, they (mostly) separate into ions that freely and independently move around in the solution. Since these ions are free to move around in the solution, the solution conducts electricity. 

Lattice energy of an ionic compound is the energy required to separate the solid into gas phase ions. 

The high melting points of ionic solids indicate that a lot of energy must be supplied to separate the ions from one another. How is it possible that the ions can separate from one another when soluble ionic compounds are dissolved in water, often with essentially no temperature change ... 

Ionic compounds contain oppositely charged particles held together by extremely strong electrostatic interactions. TThese ionic interactions are much stronger than the intermolecular forces present between covalent molecules, so it takes a great deal of energy to separate oppositely charged ions from each other. 

D. It would not change the results because both bases are ionic compounds and the energy required to separate equal charges is always the same. 

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