Question

does RbI form an ionic solid?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

[AI-generated answer — Explain Bot]

To determine whether RbI (rubidium iodide) forms an ionic solid, we need to consider the nature of the bond between the rubidium (Rb) and iodine (I) atoms.

RbI consists of a metal (rubidium) and a non-metal (iodine), which suggests that it is likely to form an ionic compound. Metals tend to lose electrons, forming cations, while non-metals tend to gain electrons, forming anions. In RbI, rubidium is expected to lose one electron, acquiring a +1 charge to become Rb+, and iodine is expected to gain one electron, acquiring a -1 charge to become I-.

To further confirm if RbI is indeed an ionic solid, we can consider the difference in electronegativity between rubidium and iodine. Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. Rubidium has a lower electronegativity (0.82) compared to iodine (2.66). This large electronegativity difference supports the formation of an ionic bond, as the electron is more likely to be transferred from the metal (Rb) to the non-metal (I).

Therefore, based on the characteristics of Rb and I as well as the electronegativity difference between them, we can conclude that RbI forms an ionic solid.