Ionic Compounds

Question 1

Ionic Strucutre

Answer 1

Ionic compounds form a giant crystal lattice, with alternating anions and cations in a regular 3D repeating lattice structure.

Question 2

Properties of Ionic Compounds

Answer 2

When a solid ionic compound melts to produce a liquid, the strong ionic bonds (electrostatic forces) between anions and cations in crystal lattice must be broken. As these are strong, it takes significant amount of energy to break them, resulting in high melting and boiling point.

Question 2

Properties of Ionic Compounds

Answer 2

Ionic Compounds tend to break when subjected to force, because when disorder is caused into the crystal lattice, you will cause ions with same charge to come into contact, causing repulsion and fracture in structure.

Question 3

Properties of Ionic Compounds

Answer 3

Ionic compounds are considered moderately strong, as it takes reasonable force to deform them. Strength is dependent on size of ionic charges and distance between ions in the lattice.

Ionic compounds are considered to have moderate hardness, resistant to abrasion and scratching due to strong ionic bonds

Question 4

Properties of ionic compounds

Answer 4

Electrical conductivity requires presence of mobile, charged particles. Solid ionic compounds contain charged particles, but are not mobile as they are fixed in the lattice. Therefore, they are poor conductors of electricity. Molten ionic compounds contain charged particles that are mobile, and therefore ionic compounds in the liquid state are good conductors of electricity. When an ionic compound dissolves in water, the ions separate and move around freely, and therefore in an aqueous state are good conductors of electricity.