Why does magnesium oxide have a higher melting point than sulfur dioxide?
Sulphur dioxide is a covalent compound with a v-shaped structure. Because of this, the molecule is polar and can bond to other molecules due to permanent dipoles, which are relatively strong bonds. Magnesium oxide, on the other hand, is an ionic compound that forms an ionic lattice – due to the attraction between the positive Mg and negative O ions.
