ionic compounds Flashcards
Why are ionic compounds hard?
There is a strong electrostatic attraction between the cations and anions, therefore a high amount of force is required to displace the ions from their original positions, therefore ionic compound are hard.
Why do ionic compounds have a high melting/boiling point?
There is a strong electrostatic attractions between the cations and anions, therefore a large amount of energy is required to separate the ions, therefore ionic compounds have a high melting/boiling point.
Why are ionic compounds brittle/not malleable?
When force is applied to an ionic compound, a layer of cations and anions are be displaced, causing like ions to appose each other, since like ions have like charges, they repel each other, therefore cracking the structure, this suggests that ionic compounds are brittle/not malleable.
Why are ionic compounds usually crystalline solids?
Ionic compounds are usually crystalline solids because they are usually arranged in a close-packed, repeating, three dimensional lattice structure.
Why are ionic compounds poor electrical conductors/ good insulators in a solid state?
In ionic compounds, the ions are fixed in a lattice, therefore the ions are stationary (not mobile) in solid state, therefore ionic compounds have no mobile charged particles, therefore they cannot conduct electricity.
Why can ionic compounds conduct electricity in molten/aqueous states?
In a molten/aqueous state, the lattice structure of the ionic compound has broken down, therefore the charged ions are able to move freely, therefore they can conduct electricity.
Why are ionic compounds often soluble in water?
When an ionic compound is placed in water, the polar water molecules disrupt the crystal lattice because they can attract the ions, separating them from each other, therefore dissolving the ionic compounds and allowing the ions to move freely, therefore ionic compounds are soluble.
Why can ionic compounds conduct heat?
The ions are organized in a lattice structure, therefore they can vibrate and bump into their neighbors easily, therefore they can transfer kinetic energy, therefore they can conduct heat.
