Using principles of chemical bonding, explain why solid aluminum is a good conductor of electricity but solid aluminum chloride is not. NaCl has a boiling point of 1413 degrees celcius wheras BrCl has a boiling point of 5 degrees celcius. Account for this difference using chemical bonding and molecular structure.
Pure aluminium is a good conductor because it's atoms are metalically bonded. This means it's electrons are delocalised and can therefore produce a current. NaCl has a high boiling point because in order to evaporate it first needs to melt. And to melt it you need to break it's lattice structure. Na and Cl atoms are held by strong ionic bonds. BrCl on the other hand is covalently bonded. It's molecular structure does not need to be broken in order for it to melt or boil. All that has to be done is weak van der waal bonds need to be broken.
