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Question: Is \(A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}\)ionic?...

Is Al2O3A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}ionic?

Explanation

Solution

The aluminum atom belongs to group 13 and period 3 of the periodic table and the oxygen atom has an atomic number 8 and belongs to group 16 and period 2 of the periodic table.

Complete step-by-step answer: From the lower classes, we are studying various chemical compounds and the bonding between the atoms to form these chemical compounds.
First, let us discuss the atoms that have combined to formed aluminum oxide. The nature of the atoms will give an idea about the type of bonding involved.
We know that the aluminum atom and oxygen atom have combined in a fixed stoichiometric ratio to form the chemical compound aluminum oxide.
Aluminum which is represented as Al has an atomic number 13, which is placed in group 13 or group III-A and period 3 of the periodic table. Al is a metal and it has all the properties of a metallic substance and it has 3 valence electrons.
The oxygen atom has the chemical symbol O and has the atomic number 8. It is placed in group 16 and the second period of the periodic table, so it is a non-metal atom.
We know that when a metal atom and a non-metal are combined to form a compound, the chemical bond involved is ionic. There will be an electrostatic force of attraction between the atoms and this force holds the atoms together.
So Al2O3A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}is an ionic compound.
Al has a charge of +3 and O has a charge of -2, while calculating the overall charge, the compound will have a net charge of zero.

Note: We could say that Al2O3A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}is ionic in another aspect also, by taking another parameter electronegativity difference. We know that the electronegativity increases as we move from left to right of the periodic table. Oxygen is more electronegative than Al, O has an electronegativity around 3.5 and Al has an electronegativity of about 1.5, and the difference between the electronegativity between the atoms are 2.If the electronegativity difference between the atoms that combining is greater than 1.7 or 2, then the bond that exists between the atoms will be ionic.