Elements and Compounds
Question 1
- Properties of Sodium and the sodium ion
The Sodium atom solid belongs to group 1, period 3 of the periodic table. It has an atomic number of 11, and it is solid at room temperature. Its melting point is at 370.944K, while its boiling point is at 1156.090K. Sodium has a density of 0.97g cm-3 and a relative atomic mass of 22.990. the mass number of sodium is 23amu, meaning that it has 11 protons, neutrons, and 11 electrons. Its electron configuration is [Ne] 3s1. Its first ionization energy is 5.1391 eV. Its thermal conductivity is at 141 W/ m K. using Pauling’s scale, the electronegativity of sodium is 0.93. The sodium ion has a molecular formula of Na+. It has a charge of 1. It has 11 protons and 10 electrons (Sodium, 2019).
- Difference instabilities
The sodium atom is reactive in that it quickly reacts with elements in its environment to form compounds. The sodium atom is unstable because its outermost energy level is not full. To be stable, it loses one electron while undergoing a chemical reaction to become an ion. Sodium ins are stable because their outermost energy levels are full. The reaction of sodium with other elements is always exothermic thus the sodium ion is more stable than the sodium atom (Sodium, 2019)
- Role of sodium in the body
The role of sodium ions in the body is regulating blood and body fluids. It helps in balancing water in the cells and also around the cells (Sodium, 2019).
Question 2
- Difference between ionic and covalent compound
Ionic compounds get formed by the transfer of electrons, but covalent compounds get formed through sharing electrons. Ionic compounds only form between metals and non-metals, while covalent compounds form between two non-metals. Ionic compounds are soluble, have shape, and are good electrical conductors, while most covalent compounds have neither property (Covalent Bonds vs. Ionic Bonds, 2019).
- How are covalent compounds used in the human body?
Hydrogen bonding in the body is useful in the formation of DNA. Carbohydrates form through the covalent bonding of hydrogen, oxygen, and water. The breakdown of glucose in the body supply energy to the cells (Covalent Bonds vs. Ionic Bonds, 2019).
- How does polarity impact solubility?
Polar substances dissolve in the polar solvent, while substances that are nonpolar dissolve in nonpolar solvents. Intermolecular forces of attraction between the solvent and the solute particles help separate particles of the solute to occupy spaces within the solvent. A nonpolar substance such as hexane cannot dissolve in water. Pentane and hexane are nonpolar having London forces between them. The two are miscible because of the similarities in structure. If the solute is polar and we are unsure of the status of the solvent, through conducting a solubility test, we can establish whether the solvent is polar or nonpolar. Polar solutes can only dissolve in polar solvents while nonpolar solutes only dissolve in nonpolar solvents (Molecular Polarity)
References
Covalent Bonds vs. Ionic Bonds. (2019). Chemistry Libre Texts. Retrieved from https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Chemical_Bonding/Fundamentals_of_Chemical_Bonding/Covalent_Bonds_vs_Ionic_Bonds
Molecular Polarity. (n.d.). chemphys.armstrong.edu. Retrieved from chemphys.armstrong.edu/P1/polar/polarity.html
Sodium. (2019). Pub Chem. Retrieved from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodim-ion