Homework Help: Chemistry

Posted by Jake on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 9:42pm.

The forces holding together an ionic solid are much stronger than the forces between particles in a molecular solid. How are these strong forces reflected in the properties of an ionic solid?

a) strong hydrogen bonding exists between discrete molecules
b) strong dipole-dipole forces exist between oppositely charged ions
c) strong hydrogen bonding exists between atoms
d) strong electrostatic forces exist between discrete molecules
e) strong electrostatic forces exist between oppositely charged ions

I chose B because it makes the most sense. Ionic solids are not made of discrete molecules, molecular solids are. It was a toss up between B and E, but I'm not sure what "electrostatic" forces are and if they're different than dipole-dipole.

Thanks!

Chemistry - DrBob222, Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 10:13pm
I think E is the correct answer. The answer in B refers to dipole-dipole forces BETWEEN OPPOSITELY CHARGED IONS. Oppositely charged ions do attract each other but those are ionic forces and not dipoles. There are ion-dipole bonds, too, especially in solution form, but again thos are ion-dipole and n ot dipole-dipole forces.
In a crystal solid, the positive ions and negative ions are held together in a crystal lattice by the electrostatic attraction from the oppositely charged ions. In NaCl, for example, the Na^+ attract the Cl^- in an alternating structure of the two ions in the crystal lattice. Electrostatic forces are just the attraction for ions to each other as opposed to dipole-dipole, ion-dipole, London, and other types of forces between molecules and clusters of molecules.
Chemistry - Jake, Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 10:42pm
I think I understand, but the thing that I'm still a bit confused about is how ionic forces and dipoles differ. If dipole-dipole is + to -, then are ionic forces opposite charges as well? They must be in order to attract.

Sorry if I'm being stupid.
Chemistry - Alicia, Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7:53pm
strong electrostatic forces exist between oppositely charged ions
Because the answer says ions

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