Answer to Question #259444 in General Chemistry for Niall

Question

Explain why Ethyene is gas at room temperature , but polyethyene is a solid, Describe and explain their conductivity compared with magnesium oxide

Answer 1

It is because ethene is a small molecule. Thus, its melting point and boiling point is low.

Meanwhile, polyethene is a big molecule and has a long chain. Therefore, its melting and boiling point is high because it requires more heat to overcome the force of attraction.

Magnesium is a lattice structure of Mg2+ ions that have lost two electrons each to the sea of delocalized electrons. Magnesium is a good conductor of electricity because of all of the delocalized electrons that hold it together, which are free to move around and carry electrical charge.