Why dose sodium oxide have a high melting point?

Sodium oxide has a formula of Na2O. Since sodium is a metal and oxygen is a non metal, sodium oxide is an ionic species. Sodium will lose an electron to form a cation and oxygen will gain 2 electrons to form anion. These ions will be arranged in an ionic lattice structure. There is a strong attractive force between these oppositely charged ions, which require a lot of energy to break lots of these bonds to melt the lattice structure. This is why sodium oxide has a high melting point.

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Write equations and give the mechanism for the reaction of butanone with: 1) NaBH4 and 2) HCN


What is meant by the term 'Electronegativity'


Given is a following reaction at equilibrium: N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇄ 2NH3(g), ΔH < 0. What will be the effect of changing the following conditions on the system? 1. Increasing pressure. 2. Decreasing temperature. 3. Adding a catalyst. 4. Adding HCl(g).


A 20cm³ sample of lithium hydroxide solution of unknown concentration is neutralised by 12.25cm³ of 0.15mol/dm³ of sulfuric acid. Calculate the concentration of the lithium hydroxide solution.