Question

Of the four general types of solids, which one(s) (a) are generally low-boiling? (b) are ductile and malleable? (c) are generally soluble in nonpolar solvents?

Short answer

Question: Identify the type(s) of solids that correspond to each characteristic: a) Generally low-boiling solid(s) b) Ductile and malleable solid(s) c) Generally soluble in nonpolar solvents solid(s) Answer: a) Molecular solids b) Metallic solids c) Molecular solids with nonpolar molecules

Step-by-step solution

(a) Generally low-boiling solid(s)

The type of solid that has generally low boiling points is molecular solids. This is because the forces holding the individual molecules together (e.g. van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding) are relatively weak compared to other types of bonding and can be easily broken when the temperature increases.

(b) Ductile and malleable solid(s)

The type of solid that has ductile and malleable properties is metallic solids. Metallic solids consist of a lattice of metal atoms surrounded by a sea of delocalized valence electrons. This structure allows the metal atoms to slide past one another under pressure, making them ductile and malleable.

(c) Generally soluble in nonpolar solvents solid(s)

The type of solid that is generally soluble in nonpolar solvents is molecular solids with nonpolar molecules. Nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar substances due to a principle called "like dissolves like." This means that substances with similar intermolecular forces (e.g., van der Waals forces) will dissolve in each other.