Why does MgO have a much higher melting point (about 2850 °C) than NaCl (801 °C)?
Correct answer D. The higher ionic charges in MgO give a much larger lattice energy
Explanation
Electrostatic attraction is proportional to the product of ionic charges. Mg²⁺ and O²⁻ attract about four times more strongly than Na⁺ and Cl⁻, so more energy is needed to melt MgO.
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