Question detail
How does the structure of sodium affect its melting point compared to silicon?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Periodicity
Question
- A. Sodium has a giant covalent structure
- B. Sodium has a simple molecular structure
- C. Sodium has a metallic structure
- D. Sodium has an ionic structure
Answer
Sodium has a metallic structure
Explanation
Sodium has a metallic structure with metallic bonding, which is weaker than the covalent bonds in silicon, resulting in a lower melting point.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Melting Points
Students often confuse the melting points of metals and non-metals in Period 3, thinking they are similar due to their position in the periodic table.
Remember that metals have metallic bonding which leads to higher melting points, while non-metals have weaker van der Waals forces or covalent bonds that result in lower melting points. For example, sodium (metal) has a higher melting point than sulfur (non-metal) due to these bonding differences.
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