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Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter

Properties of ionic compounds

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

The giant ionic lattice and its strong electrostatic forces acting in all directions, why ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points, why they conduct when melted or dissolved but not when solid, and why these properties hold for every ionic lattice.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Describe the structure of a giant ionic lattice and explain why ionic compounds melt and boil at high temperatures.

Key term

What name is given to the regular structure of an ionic compound?

Key term

Describe the forces in a giant ionic lattice.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What name is given to the regular structure of an ionic compound?

    Model answer

    A giant ionic lattice.

  2. 2

    Describe the forces in a giant ionic lattice.

    Model answer

    Strong electrostatic forces of attraction act in all directions between the oppositely charged ions.

  3. 3

    Why is the arrangement of ions in an ionic compound described as regular?

    Model answer

    The oppositely charged ions repeat in a fixed, ordered pattern throughout the lattice.

  4. 4

    Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?

    Model answer

    Large amounts of energy are needed to overcome the many strong electrostatic forces between the ions.

  5. 5

    Are the boiling points of ionic compounds high or low, and why?

    Model answer

    High, because many strong bonds between the ions have to be broken.

  6. 6

    Explain why more energy is needed to melt an ionic compound than a substance made of small molecules.

    Model answer

    Each ion is strongly attracted to many oppositely charged ions in all directions, whereas molecules are held to each other only by weak forces.

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