How to tell if ionic compound has a higher melting point?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on determining the melting points of ionic compounds, specifically comparing MgO and NaCl, and CuCO3 and Na2CO3. It is established that MgO has a higher melting point than NaCl due to the charges of the ions involved, with Mg2+ and O2- contributing to stronger ionic bonds. In contrast, Na2CO3 exhibits a higher melting point than CuCO3, indicating that factors such as lattice energy play a significant role in melting point determination. The conversation highlights the complexity of predicting melting points in more intricate ionic compounds.

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  • Understanding of ionic bonding and charge interactions
  • Knowledge of lattice energy concepts
  • Familiarity with the properties of common ionic compounds
  • Basic chemistry principles related to melting points
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  • Research the concept of lattice energy in ionic compounds
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I know that MgO has a higher melting point than NaCl as Mg is Mg2+ while O is O2- while Na is Na+ and Cl ia Cl-. but in CuCO3 and Na2CO3, Na2CO3 has a higher melting point compared to CuCO3. So I'm not sure how to tell which ionic compound will have a higher melting point than another when they are more complicated. Any guides on how to roughly tell this would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks so much for the help!
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Simple approaches won't work for more complicated compounds.
 
Oh ok thanks this needs lattice energy and other complicated stuff...
 

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