From: Algis Sodonis (asodonis@urbanschool.org)
Date: Wed Apr 17 2002 - 07:25:42 PDT
Message-id: <fc.000f76110028db0f3b9aca008b1d5547.28db19@urbanschool.org> Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 07:25:42 -0700 Subject: Re: pinhole elemental gas From: "Algis Sodonis" <asodonis@urbanschool.org>
One answer that is probably not complete is that elemental gases, like oxygen, nitrogen and chlorine form covalent bonds with each other due to their almost full valence shells. After forming covalent bonds, they make symmetrical nonpolar molecules which have very little mutual attraction, hence they need to be VERY COLD to cohere and become liquids and solids. If you look at it from this perspective, the electronegativity is irrelevant. Their electronegativity difference is 0.
What we need now is a better explanation of how metallic bonding of elemental metals (which have an electronegativity difference of 0) differs from covalent bonding. I have found most textbook explanations of metallic bonds pretty basic and not very helpful.
Algis Sodonis
The Urban School of SF
pinhole@exploratorium.edu writes:
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>Dear Pinholers,
>Can any one explain to me why elemental gases are mostly non metals? I =
>understand and can explain why the noble gases are gases, but it seems =
>as if the elements with smaller, more electronegative atoms would be =
>more likely to form solids.
>I have confused myself, but the way that I have explained =
>electronegativity would seem to imply that the most electronegative =
>elements should be solids and elements like lithium or boron should be =
>gases. HELP
>Yibi Smith, Dixon High School
>
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><BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dear Pinholers,</FONT></DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Can any one explain to me why elemental =
>gases are=20
>mostly non metals? I understand and can explain why the noble =
>gases are=20
>gases, but it seems as if the elements with smaller, more =
>electronegative atoms=20
>would be more likely to form solids.</FONT></DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have confused myself, but the way =
>that I have=20
>explained electronegativity would seem to imply that the most =
>electronegative=20
>elements should be solids and elements like lithium or boron =
>should be=20
>gases. HELP</FONT></DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Yibi Smith, Dixon High=20
>School</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
>
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