Question

Compare and contrast the structures of the following solids.

a. CO₂(s) and H₂O(s)

b. NaCI(s) and CsCI(s)

Short answer

1. The higher energy is acquired to break bonds of H₂O and then CO₂ .
2. NaCI forms a face-centered unit cell while CsCI forms a simple cubic cell.

Step-by-step solution

Compare the solids CO2(s) and H2O(s) .

Both H₂O and CO₂ solids are molecular solid. The solid H₂O has a higher intermolecular mass than the CO₂ because H₂O requires more energy to break the bonds. In contrast, due to poor intermolecular forces of CO₂, it is easily transformed into vapor.

Compare the solids NaCI(s) and CsCI(s) .

Both NaCI and CsCI are ionic solidswith lattice points occupied by anions and holes occupied by cations. The difference between them is that NaCI forms a face-centered unit cellwhile CsCI forms a simple cubic cell.