Answer :
Final answer:
The melting point of sodium is 34.15 degrees Celsius higher than that of potassium. The difference in melting points is attributed to the strength of intermolecular or ionic bonds in the substances.
Explanation:
The melting point of sodium is 97.8 degrees Celsius, while the melting point of potassium is 63.65 degrees Celsius. To find out how much higher the melting point of sodium is compared to potassium, we subtract the melting point of potassium from that of sodium:
97.8 °C (sodium) - 63.65 °C (potassium) = 34.15 °C
Therefore, the melting point of sodium is 34.15 degrees Celsius higher than that of potassium.
Melting points are influenced by the strength of the forces holding the particles together in the solid. Substances with strong ionic bonds, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), generally have much higher melting points (801°C for NaCl) compared to molecular compounds like ice (H₂O), which has a melting point of 0 °C due to weaker hydrogen bonds.
