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Why can ionic compounds conduct electricity but molecular compounds usually can not?
Ionic compounds can conduct electricity because the ions in the solid state can move and carry electric charge. In contrast, molecular compounds usually do not conduct electricity because they do not dissociate into ions in solution or in the solid state, resulting in no free charge carriers to conduct electricity.
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How do ionic and molecular compounds differ in physical properties?
Ionic compounds have higher melting and boiling points than molecular compounds due to the strong electrostatic forces between ions. Ionic compounds are usually solid at room temperature, while molecular compounds can be solid, liquid, or gas. Ionic compounds conduct electricity when dissolved in water, while molecular compounds do not.
Molecular compounds are usually .?
composed of two or more nonmetallic elements.
What are the characteristics of ionic compounds vs molecular compounds?
Ionic compounds are formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms to create ions, resulting in a lattice structure with strong electrostatic forces between oppositely charged ions. Molecular compounds, on the other hand, are formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms to create covalent bonds, resulting in discrete molecules held together by weaker forces. Ionic compounds typically have higher melting and boiling points, are usually soluble in water, and conduct electricity in molten or aqueous solutions due to the presence of free ions. Molecular compounds tend to have lower melting and boiling points, are often insoluble in water, and do not conduct electricity.
Can covalents conduct elec?
Usually no. Molecular covalent bonded compounds do not conduct electricity. When the bonding is covalent and the bonds are sigma bonds the electrons are not free to move. HOWEVER. Take graphite covalently bonded and a relatively poor conductor of electricity- because of its free electrons. There are conductive organic polymers, these have free delocalised electrons.
Are molecular compounds conductive?
Most organic (or molecular) compounds are not electrically conductive, although a few are. Conductive polymers can be conductive.See the Web Links to the left of this answer for more information about conductive polymers
How do ionic and molecular compounds differ in physical properties?
Ionic compounds have higher melting and boiling points than molecular compounds due to the strong electrostatic forces between ions. Ionic compounds are usually solid at room temperature, while molecular compounds can be solid, liquid, or gas. Ionic compounds conduct electricity when dissolved in water, while molecular compounds do not.
How do aqueous solutions of ionic and molecular compounds differ?
Aqueous solutions of ionic compounds consist of ions dissolved in water, while solutions of molecular compounds consist of intact molecules dispersed in water. Ionic compounds dissociate into ions in water, leading to electrolytic behavior, while molecular compounds usually do not conduct electricity in solution unless they ionize.
Why ionic compounds conduct electricity in molten state?
Ionic compounds are usually solid in nature and free flow of ions is not possible . However , in molten state the ions are able to flow freely and thus conduct electricity.
Molecular compounds are usually .?
composed of two or more nonmetallic elements.
What are the characteristics of ionic compounds vs molecular compounds?
Ionic compounds are formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms to create ions, resulting in a lattice structure with strong electrostatic forces between oppositely charged ions. Molecular compounds, on the other hand, are formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms to create covalent bonds, resulting in discrete molecules held together by weaker forces. Ionic compounds typically have higher melting and boiling points, are usually soluble in water, and conduct electricity in molten or aqueous solutions due to the presence of free ions. Molecular compounds tend to have lower melting and boiling points, are often insoluble in water, and do not conduct electricity.
Can covalents conduct elec?
Usually no. Molecular covalent bonded compounds do not conduct electricity. When the bonding is covalent and the bonds are sigma bonds the electrons are not free to move. HOWEVER. Take graphite covalently bonded and a relatively poor conductor of electricity- because of its free electrons. There are conductive organic polymers, these have free delocalised electrons.
Are molecular compounds conductive?
Most organic (or molecular) compounds are not electrically conductive, although a few are. Conductive polymers can be conductive.See the Web Links to the left of this answer for more information about conductive polymers
Does an ionic compound conduct electricity in a solution state?
Usually, yes. Ionic compounds are primarily soluble in solvents that promote their separation into ions in solution. These are often called "ionizing solvents", even though the solvents themselves usually do not ionize very strongly.
What properties do most covalent compounds have in common?
Most covalent compounds have relatively low melting and boiling points, as they are held together by weak intermolecular forces. They are usually insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar solvents. Covalent compounds tend to be nonconductors of electricity in their solid form.
Give the properties of ionic compounds?
Ionic compounds are typically formed between a metal and a nonmetal. They have high melting and boiling points, are soluble in water, and conduct electricity when dissolved in water or as a molten state due to the presence of free ions. Additionally, they tend to have a crystalline structure and are usually hard and brittle.
Are molecular compounds usually non-metals?
Yes, most molecular compounds do not contain metals. (The term "nonmetal" properly applies only to elements, not compounds.)
Why are covalently bonded molecular compounds never conductive?
Molecular compounds (these are electrically neutral) would be expected to be poor electrical conductors because the electrons in their covalent bonds are localised and difficult to "move". In any event molecules are separate and possible movement of electrons within the molecule would be difficult to propagate across the intermolecular gap. There are some interesting examples of covalent compounds that do conduct electricity. There are conductive polymers. Some are carbon based but there are others such as polythiazyl a sulfur nitrogen polymer. Strictly these polymers are molecular its just that the molecules are very large, and they are not usually included in the answers to questions like this. See links
