Explain why copper oxide (CuO) has a high melting point.

Copper oxide (CuO) has a high melting point due to the strong metallic bonding between copper and oxygen atoms, as well as the presence of ionic character in the bond. Copper oxide is a compound composed of copper (Cu) and oxygen (O) atoms. The high melting point of copper oxide can be attributed to several factors: 1. **Metallic Bonding**: Copper is a transition metal with a filled 3d subshell and one electron in the 4s subshell. When it forms copper oxide, the copper atoms donate their 4s electrons to form a sea of delocalized electrons. These delocalized electrons are attracted to the positively charged copper and oxygen ions, creating a strong metallic bond. Metallic bonds are typically very strong due to the large number of electrons involved, which contributes to the high melting point. 2. **Ionic Character**: Copper oxide also exhibits some ionic character in its bonding. Copper has an oxidation state of +2 in CuO, and oxygen has an oxidation state of -2. This results in the formation of Cu^2+ and O^2- ions. The electrostatic attraction between these ions with opposite charges further strengthens the bond, requiring more energy to overcome and melt the solid. 3. **Lattice Structure**: The crystal structure of copper oxide is monoclinic, which is a relatively close-packed arrangement. The close packing of the ions in the lattice means that the forces of attraction between the ions are maximized, and the ions are held tightly in place. This tight packing and strong ionic interaction contribute to the high melting point. 4. **High Oxidation State**: The +2 oxidation state of copper in CuO is relatively high, which indicates a strong attraction between the copper cations and the oxygen anions. This strong attraction requires a significant amount of energy to break, hence a high melting point. In summary, the high melting point of copper oxide is a result of the strong metallic bonding, the presence of ionic character in the bond, the close-packed lattice structure, and the high oxidation state of copper within the compound. These factors collectively require a substantial amount of energy to disrupt the solid structure and cause melting, resulting in a high melting point for CuO."

Explanation: Copper oxide (CuO) has a high melting point due to the following reasons: Ionic Bonding: CuO is made up of copper ions (Cu²⁺) and oxide ions (O²⁻) which are held together by strong ionic bonds. Electrostatic Forces: The electrostatic forces between the positively charged copper ions and negatively charged oxide ions require a lot of energy to break, contributing to the high melting point. Lattice Structure: CuO has a crystal lattice structure that is held together by strong bonds, requiring significant energy input to overcome these bonds during melting. Stability: The stability of the crystal lattice structure of CuO at high temperatures also contributes to its high melting point. hope it helps please mark me as brainliest thanks