Question

Write symbols of cation and anion present in MgO. Why do ionic compounds have higher melting points?

Answer 1

mg2+ is cation (positive ion)
o2- is anion (negative ion)
ionic compound have high melting point because the interparticle force of attraction between them is strong so it take time to melt and break the interparticle (intermolecular) force of attraction.
qwertyui

Answer 2

the symbol of cation in MgO is Mg2+ and the anion is O2-.they become stable by donating each other atoms and has high electrostatic force of attraction and considerable heat energy is required to overcome such electrostatic force of attraction between the ions of an ionic or electrovalent compound and make the ions mobile.hence, they have higher melting and boiling points