What is the difference between carbon dioxide, and silicon dioxide? How do we formulate the solubility product for the salt A_2B_3

1 Answer
Apr 13, 2016
  1. Carbon dioxide is a molecular species; silicon dioxide is non-molecular.
  2. K_(sp) = [A]^2[B]^3

Explanation:

As you know, carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide are isoelectronic. They are not isostructural. The shortness of the (first-row) C-O bonds allows effective overlap between the p -orbitals of C and O, in addition to the strong sigma bond formed. The result is a C=O double bond. On the other hand, the corresponding p -orbitals on second row Si are too diffuse to allow effective pi bonding between Si and O, with the result that O bridges to another silicon to form an infinite array of Si-O-Si-O bridges that have no molecular boundary.

As to your A_2B_3 salt, do you mean a salt of the form such as calcium phosphate, i.e. Ca_3(PO_4)_2? Such a salt would be particularly insoluble (as are most phosphates).

We would write the equation for its dissolution in water for as:

Ca_3(PO_4)_2(s) rarr 3Ca^(2+)(aq) + 2PO_4^(3-)(aq)

The solubility constant is as standard, the concentrations of the ions raised to the power of their stoichiometric coefficients:

K_(sp) = [PO_4^(3-)]^2[Ca^(2+)]^3

Alternatively, consider the solubility of ferric sulfate:

Fe_2(SO_4)_3(s) rarr 2Fe^(3+) + 3SO_4^(2-)

K_(sp) = [Fe^(3+)]^2[SO_4^(2-)]^3

This should not be too water soluble, but check this.

If this is not want you wanted I apologize.