Question

The following table summarizes melting points for different types of compounds. How does the type of compound relate to its melting point?
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1 point
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The melting points for ionic compounds are equal to those for covalent compounds.
The melting points for ionic compounds are lower than for covalent compounds.
The melting points for ionic compounds are higher than for covalent compounds.
The melting points of ionic and covalent compounds show no relationship.

Answer 1

The melting points for ionic compounds are generally higher than for covalent compounds. This is because ionic compounds are held together by strong electrostatic forces between positively and negatively charged ions, requiring more energy (in the form of heat) to break these bonds compared to the usually weaker intermolecular forces in covalent compounds. Therefore, the correct statement is:

**The melting points for ionic compounds are higher than for covalent compounds.**