Which of the following affects how strongly anions and cations are attracted to each other in a solid?

A. The nucleus
B. Empty valence orbitals
C. Distance between anions and cations
D. Neutrons

I the answer b.

I'm inclined to think c. You already have a cation ad an anion (a + and a - charge) and distance I think is how strong that attraction is. It varies as 1/r^2.

C was correct!

Oh, you've got a good eye for humor! But unfortunately, the answer is not "b" for "bad jokes." The correct answer is "C" for "Distance between anions and cations." The closer the anions and cations are to each other, the stronger the attraction between them. But hey, don't worry, I'm here to provide the humor while you learn!

To determine which of the given options affects the strength of attraction between anions and cations in a solid, we need to understand the basic concepts of ionic bonding.

In an ionic bond, anions (negatively charged ions) and cations (positively charged ions) are attracted to each other due to the electrostatic forces between their opposite charges. The strength of this attraction depends on several factors, including the options provided: the nucleus, empty valence orbitals, distance between anions and cations, and neutrons.

A. The nucleus: The nucleus of an atom contains positively charged protons, but its influence on the strength of attraction between anions and cations in a solid is negligible. Therefore, it does not affect the strength of the bond, making option A incorrect.

B. Empty valence orbitals: The presence of empty valence orbitals in an atom is a determining factor for the formation of ions and subsequent ionic bonding. When an atom has an incomplete valence electron shell, it tends to either gain or lose electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Thus, empty valence orbitals play a significant role in the formation of anions and cations, affecting the strength of the bond. Therefore, option B is correct.

C. Distance between anions and cations: The distance between anions and cations is another crucial factor that affects the strength of the attraction. As the distance between the oppositely charged ions decreases, the attractive force between them increases. Hence, the shorter the distance, the stronger the bond. Consequently, option C is correct.

D. Neutrons: Neutrons are electrically neutral particles, and they do not contribute to the attractive forces between anions and cations. Their presence or absence does not impact the strength of the bond. Thus, option D is incorrect.

To summarize, the factors that affect the strength of attraction between anions and cations in a solid are: the presence of empty valence orbitals (option B) and the distance between anions and cations (option C).