There is a large temperature interval between the melting point and the boiling point of...
There is a large temperature interval between the melting point and the boiling point of a metal because
- A) metals have very high melting points
- B) metal conduct heat very rapidly
- C) melting does not break the metallic bond but boiling does
- D) the crystal lattice of metals is easily broken
Correct Answer: C) melting does not break the metallic bond but boiling does
Explanation
Metallic bonds are strong and require a great deal of energy to break, and therefore metals have high melting and boiling points. The stronger the bonding in a metal, the higher its melting and boiling points will be. To melt a metal requires the metallic bonding to loosen, whereas boiling breaks almost all the metallic bonding. In a molten metal, the metallic bond is still present, although the ordered structure has been broken down. The metallic bond is not fully broken until the metal boils. That means that boiling point is actually a better guide to the strength of the metallic bond than melting point is. On melting, the bond is loosened, not broken.