Esoma-KE Logo
Change Class  |  Change Subject

Melting Points of Sodium and Potassium

Select Subject  |  Chemistry


Want to enjoy learning? Try reading without Ads!

Say goodbye to distractions and enjoy uninterrupted learning with our new ad-free feature. Dive into our vast collection of educational content without any interruptions.

Explore Ad-Free learning plus lots of other premium benefits for as little as KES 200 per month.

Want to enjoy learning? Try reading without Ads!

Say goodbye to distractions and enjoy uninterrupted learning with our new ad-free feature. Dive into our vast collection of educational content without any interruptions.

Explore Ad-Free learning plus lots of other premium benefits for as little as KES 200 per month.


Melting Points of Sodium and Potassium

Question

Explain why the melting point of sodium is higher than that of potassium

Answer

Sodium (Na), has a small atomic radius hence stronger metallic bonds than potassium (K). The larger atomic size in potassium results in weaker metallic bonds between its atoms compared to the smaller and more closely packed sodium atoms, which leads to a lower melting point for potassium.

Explanation

The melting point of an element is influenced by its atomic structure and the forces that hold its atoms together. In the case of sodium (Na) and potassium (K), both are alkali metals belonging to Group 1 of the periodic table, which means they have similar chemical properties and electronic configurations in their outermost energy level.