Chapter 18, Problem 7RQ

Why do all minerals have such high melting points?

Solution

To determine: All the minerals have such high melting points.

Answer:

Due to the presence of ionic bonds in minerals, they contain high melting points.

Explanation:

The minerals are basically naturally occurring crystalline solid. This crystalline nature is generated because of ionic bonding present in the minerals.

An ionic bond is a bond existing between ions. The atoms involved in ionic bonds must contain large difference in their electronegativities.

The atoms containing low electronegativity possesses tendency to furnish electrons and generate positive ion and atoms containing large electronegativities possesses tendency to gain electrons and generate negative ion.

The positive and negative ions tend to attract together through electrostatic force of attraction and that generates an ionic bond between them.

The ionic bond is basically one type of strong attraction force and thus contains high melting points of minerals.

Conclusion:

Therefore, due to the presence of ionic bonds in minerals, they contain high melting points.