How do you account for the difference in volume of the solids, in terms of intermolecular bonding?

Answer 1

The difference in volume of solids can be explained by the strength and type of intermolecular bonding present in the solids. Intermolecular forces are the attractive forces that exist between molecules and determine their physical and chemical properties.

Solids with strong intermolecular forces, such as ionic or covalently bonded solids, tend to have a smaller volume compared to solids with weaker intermolecular forces, such as molecular or metallic solids.

In ionic solids, the cations and anions are held together by strong electrostatic forces, resulting in a tightly packed structure with a smaller volume. Covalently bonded solids have strong covalent bonds between their atoms, which also lead to a compact and small structure.

Molecular and metallic solids, on the other hand, have weaker intermolecular forces like London dispersion forces and metallic bonding, respectively. These forces result in a more loosely packed structure and a larger volume.

Therefore, the type and strength of intermolecular forces affect the volume of solids, with stronger forces resulting in a smaller volume and weaker forces leading to a larger volume.