CH-1211
Metallic bonding
Chemistry · Secondary 4 · Hard · Metallic bonding
Magnesium and sodium are both metals with giant metallic structures. Magnesium forms Mg²⁺ ions, while sodium forms Na⁺ ions. Which statement best explains why magnesium has a much higher melting point than sodium?
- Mg²⁺ ions attract the sea of delocalised electrons more strongly than Na⁺ ions.
- Magnesium atoms share electrons in pairs, but sodium atoms do not.
- Magnesium contains no delocalised electrons, so its particles are closer together.
- Mg²⁺ ions are smaller, so there are fewer metallic bonds to break.
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