Why mgcl2 is more covalent than nacl
Answers
Explanation:
Sodium and Magnesium are the elements which belong to the same period which is period 3 and its type of bonding is judged on the basis of Fajan's Rule.
Fajan's rule is used to determine the covalent character in ionic compounds. In covalent character, if the polarizing power of the cations more, it will neutralize the charge present on the anion and more will be the covalent character.
More covalent character in the compounds is produced when the size of the cation is small, the size of the anion is large and high charge is present on anion or cation.
In the given compounds, the anion is the same but there is a difference in the metal.
The size of the elements decreases on moving across a period and hence these two elements belong to the same period but magnesium lies after sodium. So, the size of magnesium is less than the size of sodium.
Fajan's rule will be more prominent in the case of magnesium chloride and hence, it is more covalent than Sodium chloride.