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this is confusing...it says explain why melting point of sulfur is higher than Phosphorous

answer
S is bigger than P so more VDW FORCES between molecules

how is S bigger than P as the atomic radius of S is smaller than P?

and i read that the more electron the greater the vdw forces. so argon has the highest electrons so shoukldent it have the highest boiling points in period 3.....

help
Reply 1
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Pigster
20
Original post by Jshek
this is confusing...it says explain why melting point of sulfur is higher than Phosphorous

answer
S is bigger than P so more VDW FORCES between molecules

how is S bigger than P as the atomic radius of S is smaller than P?

and i read that the more electron the greater the vdw forces. so argon has the highest electrons so shoukldent it have the highest boiling points in period 3.....

help


Sulfur exists as a number of allotropes, the most common one is S8.

Likewise phosphorus, P4.

It isn't size of atoms that matters it is the number of electrons and the space over which they can wander.

S8 both has more e- than P4 and the molecule is larger (and hence has a larger surface area of contact between molecules).
Reply 2
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Jshek
OP
12
Original post by Pigster
Sulfur exists as a number of allotropes, the most common one is S8.

Likewise phosphorus, P4.

It isn't size of atoms that matters it is the number of electrons and the space over which they can wander.

S8 both has more e- than P4 and the molecule is larger (and hence has a larger surface area of contact between molecules).

so if it was P AND Cl
so does that mean P higher melting point because it is a larger atom than Cl so more vdw
Reply 3
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Jshek
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Original post by Jshek
so if it was P AND Cl
so does that mean P higher melting point because it is a larger atom than Cl so more vdw

so P4 has more electrons that cl
Reply 4
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Pigster
20
Original post by Jshek
so if it was P AND Cl
so does that mean P higher melting point because it is a larger atom than Cl so more vdw

It isn't size of atoms that matters it is the number of electrons and the space over which they can wander.

P4 both has more e- than Cl2 and the molecule is larger (and hence has a larger surface area of contact between molecules).
Reply 5
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Jshek
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12
Original post by Pigster
It isn't size of atoms that matters it is the number of electrons and the space over which they can wander.

P4 both has more e- than Cl2 and the molecule is larger (and hence has a larger surface area of contact between molecules).

ok understood . but what about argon compared to Cl
Reply 6
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Jshek
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Original post by theJoyfulGeek
Van der Waals forces are a relatively weak interaction, especially compared to metallic bonding / covalent in giant structures.


does noble gas compare as well like argon
Reply 7
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Pigster
20
Original post by Jshek
ok understood . but what about argon compared to Cl

It isn't size of atoms that matters it is the number of electrons and the space over which they can wander.

Cl2 both has more e- than Ar and the molecule is larger (and hence has a larger surface area of contact between molecules).

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