Ionic structures and bonding
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Why is the melting point of magnesium oxide higher than the melting point of potassium chloride?
Magnesium ions and oxide ions are smaller than potassium ions and chloride ions. Also they have 2+ and 2- charges.
So in magnesium oxide the ions are closer together and have bigger charges. This means that the electrostatic attraction is much stronger.
The stronger ionic bonding makes magnesium oxide harder to melt.
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updated: 18 March 2005
