The molar volume calculated does not take into account that the shape of the sodium atoms affects packing space between atoms.
(source: I had the same question)
The experimentally measured and generally accepted value for the molar volume of Na is about 23 cm3/mol. Which of the following best explains why the value calculated in Part B is significantly smaller than the measured values?
Part B Answer 16.3 cm3/mol
Which one would it be?
The molar volume calculated does not take into account that the electron clouds of neighboring sodium atoms repel each other.
The metallic radius used in the calculation was based on a small overlap between the electron orbitals of neighboring atoms.
The metallic radius for sodium does not take into account that sodium commonly loses one electron and exists as Na+.
The molar volume calculated does not take into account that the shape of the sodium atoms affects packing space between atoms.
The metallic radius reported is not very accurate since electron clouds are mostly empty space and have no specific volume.
2 answers
Yes the above reply is correct. The answer is The molar volume calculated does not take into account that the shape of the sodium atom affects packing space between atoms.