Which of the following oxides has a giant covalent structure?

Assessment: WAEC SSCE - Chemistry - 2020 (Objective) Subject: Chemistry

Question 1 Report

Which of the following oxides has a giant covalent structure?

Answer Details
The oxide with a giant covalent structure is silicon dioxide (SiO\(_2\)). A giant covalent structure means that each atom in the structure is bonded to neighboring atoms by strong covalent bonds. In the case of SiO\(_2\), each silicon atom is covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms, and each oxygen atom is covalently bonded to two silicon atoms. This creates a 3D network of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms that extends in all directions, forming a giant covalent structure. In contrast, the other oxides listed (Al\(_2\)O\(_3\), Na\(_2\)O, and P\(_4\)O\(_{10}\)) do not have a giant covalent structure. Al\(_2\)O\(_3\) and Na\(_2\)O have ionic structures, where the metal and non-metal atoms are bonded by strong ionic bonds. P\(_4\)O\(_{10}\) has a molecular structure, where the phosphorus and oxygen atoms are bonded by covalent bonds to form discrete P\(_4\)O\(_{10}\) molecules. Overall, the different types of bonding in these oxides result in their varying structures and properties.

Download The App On Google Playstore

Everything you need to excel in your exams

Green Bridge CBT Mobile App
Personalized AI Learning Chat Assistant
200,000+ Exam Questions Across IGCSE, JAMB, WAEC & NECO
Over 3,900 Lesson Notes
Offline Support - Learn Anytime, Anywhere
Green Bridge Timetable
Literature Summaries & Potential Questions
Track Your Performance & Progress
In-depth Explanations for Comprehensive Learning