Question

Give the formulae of the chlorides of the elements X and Y having atomic numbers of 3 and 6 respectively. Will the properties of the two chlorides be similar or different? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

The formula of the chloride of element X is XCl (or X⁺Cl−). Element X has an electronic configuration of 2, 1. When it reacts with chlorine with electronic configuration 2, 8, 7, it transfers one electron to the chlorine atom to form an ionic chloride compound.

The formula of the chloride of element Y is YCl₄. Element Y has an electronic configuration of 2, 4. When it reacts with chlorine, which has the electronic configuration 2, 8, 7, it shares its four electrons with four chlorine atoms.

Properties of the two chlorides will be different because of the difference in the nature of bonding between them. For example, XCl, being ionic in nature, must have high melting and boiling points, but YCl₄, being covalent in nature, must have low melting and boiling points.