---
title: "A student investigates the factors that influence the lattice energy of ionic solids and collects the ionic radius data shown in the table below.  | Ion | Ionic radius (pm) | | :— | :— | | \\(\\text{Mg}^{2+}\\) | \\(72\\) | | \\(\\text{Ca}^{2+}\\) | \\(100\\) | | \\(\\text{Li}^+\\) | \\(76\\) | | \\(\\text{Na}^+\\) | \\(102\\) | | \\(\\text{O}^{2-}\\) | \\(140\\) | | \\(\\text{F}^-\\) | \\(133\\) | | \\(\\text{Cl}^-\\) | \\(181\\) |  Based on Coulomb’s law and the data in the table, which of the following correctly ranks \\(\\text{CaO}\\), \\(\\text{LiF}\\), \\(\\text{MgO}\\), and \\(\\text{NaCl}\\) in order of decreasing lattice energy magnitude (from greatest to least)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123488/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T11:59:55+00:00"
---

# A student investigates the factors that influence the lattice energy of ionic solids and collects the ionic radius data shown in the table below.

| Ion | Ionic radius (pm) |
| :— | :— |
| \(\text{Mg}^{2+}\) | \(72\) |
| \(\text{Ca}^{2+}\) | \(100\) |
| \(\text{Li}^+\) | \(76\) |
| \(\text{Na}^+\) | \(102\) |
| \(\text{O}^{2-}\) | \(140\) |
| \(\text{F}^-\) | \(133\) |
| \(\text{Cl}^-\) | \(181\) |

Based on Coulomb’s law and the data in the table, which of the following correctly ranks \(\text{CaO}\), \(\text{LiF}\), \(\text{MgO}\), and \(\text{NaCl}\) in order of decreasing lattice energy magnitude (from greatest to least)?

A student investigates the factors that influence the lattice energy of ionic solids and collects the ionic radius data shown in the table below.

| Ion | Ionic radius (pm) |
| :--- | :--- |
| \(\text{Mg}^{2+}\) | \(72\) |
| \(\text{Ca}^{2+}\) | \(100\) |
| \(\text{Li}^+\) | \(76\) |
| \(\text{Na}^+\) | \(102\) |
| \(\text{O}^{2-}\) | \(140\) |
| \(\text{F}^-\) | \(133\) |
| \(\text{Cl}^-\) | \(181\) |

Based on Coulomb's law and the data in the table, which of the following correctly ranks \(\text{CaO}\), \(\text{LiF}\), \(\text{MgO}\), and \(\text{NaCl}\) in order of decreasing lattice energy magnitude (from greatest to least)?

- **A.** \(\text{LiF} > \text{MgO} > \text{CaO} > \text{NaCl}\)
- **B.** \(\text{LiF} > \text{NaCl} > \text{MgO} > \text{CaO}\)
- **C.** \(\text{MgO} > \text{CaO} > \text{LiF} > \text{NaCl}\)
- **D.** \(\text{MgO} > \text{LiF} > \text{CaO} > \text{NaCl}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123488/*