Explain how calcium oxide dissolve in water and explain the role of bonding in this process.

Calcium oxide (CaO), also known as quicklime or burnt lime, is a highly reactive chemical compound. When it dissolves in water, a process known as slaking or hydration, it undergoes a highly exothermic reaction to form calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).

Here's a step-by-step explanation of the process:

1. Calcium oxide is a basic oxide and water is a liquid compound. When they come into contact, the calcium oxide reacts with the water to form calcium hydroxide.

2. The chemical equation for this reaction is: CaO + H2O -> Ca(OH)2. This means that one molecule of calcium oxide reacts with one molecule of water to produce one molecule of calcium hydroxide.

3. The reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat. This is why calcium oxide is used in some types of heaters.

4. The bonding plays a crucial role in this process. Calcium oxide is an ionic compound, meaning it's formed by the transfer of electrons from the calcium atom to the oxygen atom. This creates ions, which are atoms with a charge. The calcium ion has a positive charge, and the oxygen ion has a negative charge.

5. When calcium oxide comes into contact with water, the water molecule, which is polar, is attracted to the ions in the calcium oxide. The positive end of the water molecule (the hydrogen end) is attracted to the negatively charged oxygen ion, and the negative end of the water molecule (the oxygen end) is attracted to the positively charged calcium ion.

6. This attraction causes the calcium oxide to dissolve in the water, forming calcium hydroxide. The calcium hydroxide is also an ionic compound, and it remains in solution in the water.

7. The process of dissolving involves breaking the ionic bonds in the calcium oxide and forming new ionic bonds in the calcium hydroxide. This is why bonding plays such a crucial role in the process.