Calcium chloride can be prepared by the reaction of calcium with chlorine gas. Figure 7 shows some properties of calcium, chlorine and calcium chloride.
ability to conduct electricity
substance
relative melting
point
when solid
when molten
calcium
high
good
good
chlorine
low
poor
poor
calcium chloride
high
poor
good
Figure 7
Explain, in terms of bonding and structure, why the properties of the product,
calcium chloride, are different from the properties of the reactants, calcium
and chlorine.