ionic compounds.

Question 1

what kind of melting and boiling points do giant ionic structures have?

Answer 1

high.

Question 2

why do giant ionic structures have a high melting and boiling point?

Answer 2

electrostatic forces of attraction hold the ions in a lattice and that takes a lot of energy to overcome.

Question 3

as solids what can’t ionic compounds conduct electricity do and why?

Answer 3

conduct electricity.
ions are bonded together.

Question 4

as liquids what can the ions do that allow them conduct electricity?

Answer 4

ions break free and can move.
ions are charged particles so can carry an electric current.

Question 5

why are ionic compounds usually soluble in water?

Answer 5

water molecules have a slight electrical charge. can attract ions away from the lattice .
when dissolved ions are free to move and can carry an electric current.

Question 6

explain why solid lead bromide cannot conduct electricity but molten lead bromide can? (4 marks.)

Answer 6

solid lead bromide cannot conduct electricity because their ions are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction and cannot move, however, molten lead bromide can because the ions can break free and move around as they are charged particles they can carry an electric current.

Question 7

why are ionic compounds usually brittle?

Answer 7

ionic compounds have a giant ionic lattice structure formed from a regular arrangement of positive and negative ions held together by electrostatic forces of attraction.
a forces causes a disturbance to the giant ionic lattice (eg: dropped,)
the regular arrangement of positive and negative ions is disrupted.
ions of the same charge become aligned.
result in some electrostatic repulsion between ions of the same charge.
layers split apart and structure shatter.