In terms of structure and bonding explain why the boiling point of bromine is different from that of magnesium

Bromine exists as a simple molecular structure- the Br2 molecules are held together using Van der Waals forces. Whereas Magnesium is a metal and is held together using metallic bonding. Metalic bonding constists of tighly packed positive ions surrounded by a sea of delocalised electrons and is therefore very strong. Van der Waal forces are weak. Melting is the process where a solid becomes a liquid, this means bonds must be broken. A larger amount of energy is needed to break Metallic bonds as they are stronger than Van der Waals. Therefore Magnesium has a higher melting point that Bromine.

MA

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe how you would distinguish between separate samples of the two 2 0 4 stereoisomers of CH3CH2CH2CH2CH(OH)CN [2 marks]


How does ionic bonding work and what is the structure of an ionic compound?


How does pH relate to pKa?


When going down group 1 on the periodic table, what happens to reactivity?