Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 2: Problem 51

An unknown substance is found to have a high melting point. In addition, it is a poor conductor of electricity and does not dissolve in water. The substance most likely contains (A) ionic bonding (B) nonpolar covalent bonding (C) covalent network bonding (D) metallic bonding

Short Answer

Expert verified
The unknown substance most likely contains covalent network bonding.

Step by step solution

01

Interpret the given properties

The high melting point suggests that the bonds within the substance are very strong. Poor conductivity of electricity indicates that there are not free electrons or ions in the substance for electricity to move through. Last, the non-solubility in water suggests that the substance has nonpolar characteristics, since many ionic substances are water soluble.
02

Compare the properties with the types of bonding

Looking at the different types of bonding, a substance with ionic bonding, such as NaCl, generally has a high melting point due to the strong electrostatic forces between the ions, but they are also good conductors of electricity when molten or dissolved, and are water soluble because of the ion-dipole interactions, thus eliminating option A. Nonpolar covalent bonds, like in oils, typically have lower melting points, suggesting they aren't the correct answer either, thus eliminating option B. Metallic bonding substances, such as iron, tend to have high melting points and are great conductors of electricity. This leaves us with option C, covalent network bonding.
03

Final conclusion

Covalent network bonding fits all the given properties. This type of bonding, as found in diamonds or quartz, includes very strong bonds between the atoms, leading to high melting points. They do not conduct electricity and are not soluble in water, in line with the given characteristics of the unknown substance.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A sample of liquid butane \(\left(\mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{L}} \mathrm{H}_{10}\right)\) in a pressurized lighter is set up directly beneath an aluminum can, as show in the diagram above. The can contains 100.0 \(\mathrm{mL}\) of water, and when the butane is ignited the temperature of the water inside the can increases from \(25.0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) to \(82.3^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) . The total mass of butane ignited is found to be 0.51 \(\mathrm{g}\) , the specific heat of water is \(4.18 \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{g} \cdot^{\circ} \mathrm{C},\) and the density of water is \(1.00 \mathrm{g} / \mathrm{mL} .\) (a) Write the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of one mole of butane in air. (i) How much heat did the water gain? (ii) What is the experimentally determined heat of combustion for (ii) Whane based on this experiment? Your answer should be in \(\mathrm{kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\) . (c) Given butane's density of 0.573 \(\mathrm{g} / \mathrm{mL}\) at \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C},\) calculate how much heat would be emitted if 5.00 \(\mathrm{mL}\) of it were combusted at that temperature. (d) The overall combustion of butane is an exothermic reaction. Explain why this is, in terms of bond energies. (e) One of the major sources of error in this experiment comes from the heat that is aboorbed by the air. Why, then, might it not be a good ide to perform this experiment inside a sealed container to prevent the heat from leaving the system?

The average mass, in grams, of one mole of carbon atoms is equal to (A) the average mass of a single carbon atom, measured in amus (B) the ratio of the number of carbon atoms to the mass of a single carbon atom (C) the number of carbon atoms in one amu of carbon (D) the mass, in grams, of the most abundant isotope of carbon

Which of the following processes is an irreversible reaction? (A) $\mathrm{CH}_{4}(g)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \rightarrow \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l)$ (B) $\mathrm{HCN}(a q)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \rightarrow \mathrm{CN}^{-}(a q)+\mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{+}(a q)$ (C) $\mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{3}(s) \rightarrow \mathrm{Al}^{3+}(a q)+3 \mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}(a q)$ (D) $2 \mathrm{Ag}^{+}(a q)+\mathrm{Ti}(s) \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{Ag}(s)+\mathrm{Ti}^{2+}(a q)$

\(2 \mathrm{CO}(g)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g)\) 2.0 mol of \(\mathrm{CO}(g)\) and 2.0 mol of \(\mathrm{O}_{2}(g)\) are pumped into a rigid, evacuated \(4.0-\mathrm{L}\) container, where they react to form \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) .\) Which of the following values does NOT represent a potential set of concentrations for each gas at a given point during the reaction? (A) 0.5 0.5 0 (B) 0 0.25 0.5 (C) 0.25 0.25 0.5 (D) 0.25 0.38 0.25

Which of the following best explains why the ionization of atoms can occur during photoelectron spectroscopy, even though ionization is not a thermodynamically favored process? (A) It is an exothermic process due to the release of energy as an electron is liberated from the Coulombic attraction holding it to the nucleus. (B) The entropy of the system increases due to the separation of the electron from its atom. (C) Energy contained in the light can be used to overcome the Coulombic attraction between electrons and the nucleus. (D) The products of the ionization are at a lower energy state than the reactants.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free