Be and Al compounds are largely covalent because of:a)Low charge densi...
Be and Al compounds are largely covalent because of high charge density leading to high polarizing power of the cations.
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Be and Al compounds are largely covalent because of:a)Low charge densi...
Explanation:
Introduction:
When we talk about the nature of chemical bonding in compounds, we usually refer to two types of bonding: ionic and covalent. Ionic bonding occurs between metals and nonmetals, whereas covalent bonding occurs between nonmetals.
Covalent Bonding:
Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons between atoms. In a covalent bond, two atoms come together and share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. This type of bonding occurs when the electronegativity difference between the two atoms is relatively small.
Be and Al Compounds:
Beryllium (Be) and aluminum (Al) are both metals, and they tend to form compounds with nonmetals. However, the compounds formed by Be and Al are largely covalent in nature.
Reasons:
The covalent nature of Be and Al compounds can be attributed to the following factors:
1. Low Charge Density: Be and Al have relatively low charge densities compared to other metals. Charge density is the ratio of the charge of an ion to its volume. When the charge density is low, the attractive forces between the metal cation and nonmetal anion are weaker, favoring covalent bonding.
2. High Ionization Enthalpy: Ionization enthalpy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion in the gaseous state. Both Be and Al have relatively high ionization enthalpies, indicating that it is difficult to remove electrons from them. This makes it less likely for Be or Al to form cations with a positive charge, which would favor ionic bonding.
3. Low Electronegativity: Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. Both Be and Al have relatively low electronegativities, which means they are less likely to attract electrons strongly and form ionic bonds.
4. Size and Geometry: Be and Al are relatively small atoms, and their compounds often have covalent bonds due to their size and geometry. The small size of the atoms allows for closer electron sharing, leading to stronger covalent bonds.
Overall, the low charge density, high ionization enthalpy, low electronegativity, and size/geometry factors contribute to the largely covalent nature of Be and Al compounds.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D: High charge density.
Be and Al compounds are largely covalent because of:a)Low charge densi...
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