Which of the following statements is true about sodium glycinate [VISUAL]? — Bonding Chemistry Question
Question
Which of the following statements is true about sodium glycinate [VISUAL]?
A.✓ Correct
It is an ionic solid at room temperature.
B.
It is not soluble in water.
C.
It evaporates easily because of the lack of hydrogen bonding.
D.
It dissolves in water to form an acidic solution.
💡 Solution & Explanation
### STEPS:
- Analyze the chemical composition and structure of the compound: Sodium glycinate is a salt formed by a sodium cation () and a glycinate anion ().
- Identify the primary bonding type (Properties of Solids): Because the substance is composed of a metal cation and a polyatomic organic anion, the primary attractive force holding the particles together in the crystalline lattice is ionic bonding (strong Coulombic attraction between oppositely charged ions).
- Relate bonding type to physical state at room temperature: Substances held together by strong, three-dimensional networks of ionic bonds have high melting and boiling points because a massive amount of thermal energy is required to disrupt the electrostatic lattice. Therefore, sodium glycinate is a stable, crystalline ionic solid at room temperature, which identifies Option A as the correct statement.
- Evaluate water solubility: Due to the presence of the sodium cation (), sodium glycinate behaves like other sodium salts. The strong ion-dipole attractions between polar water molecules and the ions easily overcome the salt's lattice energy, making it highly soluble in water.
- Evaluate volatility and evaporation: Because ionic bonds are extremely strong, ionic compounds have negligibly low vapor pressures and do not evaporate easily.
- Evaluate the acid-base behavior of the dissolved salt: The glycinate anion is formed through the loss of an proton from the carboxylic acid group of glycine. In water, this negative carboxylate group behaves as a weak base, accepting a proton from water to produce hydroxide () ions. Because the glycinate ion is a proton acceptor and will not readily lose another proton, it dissolves in water to form a basic solution, not an acidic one.
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### WHY_OTHERS_WRONG:
- Option B is incorrect: Sodium glycinate is highly soluble in water because, like all sodium salts, the attractive forces between the ions and the polar water molecules are strong enough to dissolve the ionic lattice.
- Option C is incorrect: Sodium glycinate does not evaporate easily. Because it is an ionic compound held together by strong electrostatic attractions, it has extremely low volatility and does not undergo significant evaporation at room temperature.
- Option D is incorrect: Dissolving sodium glycinate in water forms a basic solution, not an acidic one. The glycinate anion is formed by the loss of an proton from glycine and acts as a weak base (proton acceptor) in water.
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❄️ Since Question 45 transitions to solid molecular structures, would you like to analyze how temporary dipoles and London dispersion forces hold carbon tetrachloride molecules together in the solid state next?
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