Characteristics Of Ionic And Covalent Compounds - Hardness

Question 1

Write a note on the hardness of ionic compounds.

2

Answer 1

Ionic compounds are usually difficult to cut

This is because each ion is held in the crystal lattice by strong attractive forces between it and the ions of opposite charge around it

Question 2

Are ionic compounds easy or difficult to cut?

Answer 2

They are difficult to cut

Question 3

Why are ionic compounds difficult to cut?

Answer 3

This is because each ion is held in the crystal lattice by strong attractive forces between it and the ions of opposite charge around it

Question 4

Write a note on the hardness of covalent compounds.

2

Answer 4

Covalent compounds are usually quite soft because they consist of molecules

Elements such as iodine are referred to as molecular crystals in which there are only very weak forces between one molecule and another

Question 5

Are covalent compounds easy or difficult to cut?

Answer 5

They are easy to cut

Question 6

Why are covalent compounds easy to cut?

Answer 6

This is because covalent compounds consist of molecules which are held together by very weak forces in molecular crystals

Question 7

What are molecular crystals?

Answer 7

Compounds in which there are only very weak forces between one molecule and another