5

7.16

CaO is harder and has a higher melting point than KF, and MgO is harder and has a higher melting point
than CaF2. CaO, KF, and MgO have the NaCl structure. Explain these differences.

1. CaO and KF -- CaO is harder and has a higher melting point than KF

Compound Charges Radii Total distance

CaO (Calcium oxide) 2+ and 2– 114 and 126 pm 240 pm
KF (Potassium fluoride) 1+ and 1– 138 and 119 pm 257 pm

the force of attraction between an oxide and a calcium ion is stronger than the force of attraction between a fluoride and a
calcium ion. The distance in CaO is 7% smaller and the charge factor is four times as large, both leading to stronger interionic
attraction and contributing to the hardness of the crystal.

2. MgO and CaF2 -- MgO is harder and has a higher melting point than CaF2
Compound Charges Radii Total Mandelung Constant Structure
distance
CaO (Magnesium oxide) 2+ and 2– 86 and 126 pm 212 pm 1.75 NaCl structure
KF (Calcium fluoride) 2+ and 1– 126 and 119 pm 245 pm 2.52 Fluorite Structure

The size difference and charges favor stronger MgO interionic attraction, enough to overcome the Madelung constant
difference.