Why is understanding chemical bonding important in real life? Give at least two examples from daily life where knowledge of chemical bonding helps us understand the properties or uses of materials.
Answer (1)
Understanding chemical bonding is important because it explains why materials have the properties they do—such as strength, flexibility, melting point, and conductivity—which in turn helps us choose the right materials for specific uses.Here are two real-life examples:1) Cooking with different types of pansMetal pans (like copper or aluminum) have metallic bonds that allow electrons to move freely, making them excellent heat conductors.Ceramic or glass bakeware have covalent bonds that don’t conduct heat well, so they heat up more slowly and evenly—better for baking.Knowing the bonding helps you understand why one pan is better for frying and another for baking. Also, knowing the thermal conductivity of each metal helps explain why some transmit heat more quickly than others, allowing them to heat faster.2) Why salt dissolves in water but oil does not:Table salt (NaCl) is held together by ionic bonds. Water’s polar molecules can pull these ions apart, so salt dissolves easily.Cooking oil, however, has nonpolar covalent bonds, so it doesn’t mix with polar water—leading to that familiar oil-and-water separation.This knowledge helps explain processes from making salad dressings to cleaning greasy dishes.3) Thermoplastic versus thermoset: Thermoplastic refers to the physical state of the polymer. A thermoplastic can be heated to melt the polymer. A thermoset means that the polymer has been crosslinked to adjoining polymer chains, making them impervious to melting. The choice of polymer is important in adhesives and plastic containers, where possible exposure to heat would dictate which polymer should be used. Thermosets are used for higher temperature applications.
