Question

I have a simple question: why does mgcl2 have a higher boiling point than ncl3??

I thought mgcl2 in terms of intermolecular forces had just dispersions and because ncl3 had dispersions and dipole dipole ( cause it's polar) had a higher IMF therefore a higher boiling point??

Please help thnx

Answer 1

aah! BUT MgCl2 is an ionic compound and NCl3 is covalently bonded. Most ionic compounds boil higher (and melt higher) because it takes so much energy to break the crystal lattice of the ionic compound. And after melted, the ions of Mg^+2 and Cl^- have a much higher attraction for each other than a dipole-dipole interaction has for NCl3.