Question detail

How does the charge of an ion affect the strength of an ionic lattice?

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

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At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

Bonding

Question

A. Higher charges lead to weaker lattices
B. Higher charges lead to stronger lattices
C. The charge does not affect lattice strength
D. Only ionic radius affects lattice strength

Answer

Higher charges lead to stronger lattices

Explanation

The strength of an ionic lattice increases with the charge of the ions because the electrostatic attraction between ions is stronger when the charges are higher.

Common mistake

Misunderstanding Ionic Bonding

Students often confuse ionic bonding with covalent bonding, thinking that ionic bonds involve shared electrons instead of electrostatic attraction.

Ionic bonding is defined as the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. To clarify, remember that in ionic bonding, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positive and negative ions. For example, in sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (Na) loses an electron to become Na⁺, while chlorine (Cl) gains an electron to become Cl⁻. The attraction between Na⁺ and Cl⁻ forms the ionic bond.

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