4.2 Ionic or Electrovalent Bond other factors. The crystal structure of sodium chloride, NaCl (rock salt), for example isFrom the Kössel and Lewis treatment of the shown below.formation of an ionic bond, it follows that the formation of ionic compounds would primarily depend upon: • The ease of formation of the positive and negative ions from the respective neutral atoms; • The arrangement of the positive and negative ions in the solid, that is, the lattice of the crystalline compound. The formation of a positive ion involves ionization, i.e., removal of electron(s) from the neutral atom and that of the negative ion involves the addition of electron(s) to the Rock salt structure neutral atom. In ionic solids, the sum of the electron gain M(g) → M+(g) + e– ; enthalpy and the ionization enthalpy may be Ionization enthalpy positive but still the crystal structure gets X(g) + e– → X – (g) ; stabilized due to the energy released in the Electron gain enthalpy formation of the crystal lattice. For example: the ionization enthalpy for Na+(g) formation M+(g) + X –(g) → MX(s) from Na(g) is 495.8 kJ mol–1 ; while the electron The electron gain enthalpy, ∆egH, is the gain enthalpy for the change Cl(g) + e–→ enthalpy change (Unit 3), when a gas phase Cl– (g) is, – 348.7 kJ mol–1 only. The sum of the atom in its ground state gains an electron. two, 147.1 kJ mol-1 is more than compensated The electron gain process may be exothermic for by the enthalpy of lattice formation of or endothermic. The ionization, on the other NaCl(s) (–788 kJ mol–1). Therefore, the energy hand, is always endothermic. Electron released in the processes is more than the Reprint 2025-26 Chemical Bonding And Molecular Structure 107 energy absorbed. Thus a qualitative measure of the stability of an ionic compound is provided by its enthalpy of lattice formation and not simply by achieving octet of electrons around the ionic species in gaseous state. Since lattice enthalpy plays a key role in the formation of ionic compounds, it is important that we learn more about it. 4.2.1 Lattice Enthalpy The Lattice Enthalpy of an ionic solid is defined as the energy required to completely separate one mole of a solid ionic compound into gaseous constituent ions. For example, the lattice enthalpy of NaCl is 788 kJ mol–1. This means that 788 Fig. 4.1 The bond length in a covalent kJ of energy is required to separate one mole molecule AB. of solid NaCl into one mole of Na+ (g) and one R = rA + rB (R is the bond length and rA and rB are mole of Cl– (g) to an infinite distance. the covalent radii of atoms A and B respectively) This process involves both the attractive forces between ions of opposite charges in the same molecule. The van der Waals and the repulsive forces between ions of radius represents the overall size of the like charge. The solid crystal being three- atom which includes its valence shell in a dimensional; it is not possible to calculate nonbonded situation. Further, the van der lattice enthalpy directly from the interaction Waals radius is half of the distance between of forces of attraction and repulsion only. two similar atoms in separate molecules in Factors associated with the crystal geometry a solid. Covalent and van der Waals radii of have to be included. chlorine are depicted in Fig. 4.2.

5.15 Discuss the nature of bonding in the following coordination entities on the basis of valence bond theory: (i) [Fe(CN)6] 4– (ii) [FeF6] 3– (iii) [Co(C2O4)3]3– (iv) [CoF6] 3–

12.7 The radius of the innermost electron orbit of a hydrogen atom is 5.3×10–11 m. What are the radii of the n = 2 and n =3 orbits?