Properties of ionic and Covalent compounds

Question 1

What is the structure an ionic compound?

Answer 1

A regular repeating arrangement of cation and anions held together by strong electrostatic forces

Question 2

What is a covalent compound?

Answer 2

Can be branched into simple covalent and giant covalents
simple covalent- molecules are held together by weak vanderwaals forces of attraction. Only weak van der waals forces eg. wood or I2 crystal
Giant covalent- diamond and graphite

Question 3

Ionic compounds vs covalent compounds at R.T.P

Answer 3

Ionic- They are usually (crystalline) solids, they are also brittle at R.T.P (this is why salt (NaCl) can be found in crystals), they are also generally white or coloured if a transition metal cation is present

Covalent-They are usually liquids or gases at r.t.p and some may be soft solids . This is because covalent bonds are weaker than ionic bonds. There are weak forces of attraction holding both liquids and gases tgt.

Question 4

Ionic compounds vs covalent compounds b.p

Answer 4

Ionic- they have very high m.p and b.p. Ionic bonds are very strong and need a lot of energy to be broken, due to strong electrostatic forces of attraction

Covalent- They have very low m.p and b.p because covalent bonds are weak and need a small amount of energy to be broken. This is due to weak van-der-waals forces of attraction

Question 5

Ionic compounds vs covalent compounds solubility

Answer 5

Ionic- is soluble in water because water is a polar molecule and has slight charges, therefore it can attract cations and anions in water thus separating them. (like dissolves in like)

Covalent- Insoluble in water as they are generally non-polar and water is polar. Water has electrostatic forces but covalent has van der waals which are not compatible and will not attract. Covalent compounds will be soluble in non-polar solvents/ organic solvents.

Question 6

ionic compounds vs covalent compounds conductivity

Answer 6

Ionic- They conduct electricity when molten (“melted”) or when dissolved in water. This allows the ions to move. The ions are able to move when voltage is applied.
Covalent- they do not conduct electricity because they exist as molecules, not ions. There is an absence of charged particles

Question 7

What is electricity?

Answer 7

A movement of charged particles

Question 8

Metallic bonding

Answer 8

Metal lattices eg. Cu
has strong electrostatic forces