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Ionic compounds have strong bonds holding the crystal lattice together that are due to the attraction between the oppositely charged cations and anions. Covalent compounds which are made up of discrete molecules (not giant molecular compounds like silica) have only weak intermolecular forces holding the solid form together and therefore these solids are easier to "break up" with thermal energy.

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Compared with ionic compounds solid molecular compounds generally?

have lower melting and boiling points, exist as discrete molecules, and do not conduct electricity in the solid state.


Why do most solid covalent compounds have lower melting points than ionic compounds?

Solid covalent compounds have weaker intermolecular forces compared to the strong electrostatic forces present in ionic compounds. This results in lower melting points for covalent compounds since less energy is required to break the intermolecular forces holding the molecules together.


Can you list properties of ionic compounds?

Ionic compounds are formed by the attraction between positively and negatively charged ions. They have high melting and boiling points. Ionic compounds are usually solid at room temperature. They conduct electricity when dissolved in water or melted.


Which solid is more likely to have the lowest melting point an ionic solid or molecular solid?

A molecular solid is more likely to have a lower melting point than an ionic solid. This is because molecular solids are held together by weaker intermolecular forces such as van der Waals forces, while ionic solids have strong electrostatic forces between ions.


Is a solid with a melting point of 800 degrees Celsius ionic or molecular?

The melting point of a compound cannot determine the bonding structure. As an example, both diamond and sodium chloride have higher melting points than 800 centigrade but are covalent and ionic compounds respectively.


How are ionic and covalent compounds different in terms of melting and boiling point and electrical conductivity and hardness and brittleness?

Ionic compounds generally have higher melting and boiling points.


What compounds will have the highest melting point CO2 CaCl2 N2H4 or SCl6?

CaCl2 is ionic, is solid and will have the highest melting point. The rest are covalent compounds.


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.


Why do melting points of covalent compounds tend to be lower than those of ionic compounds?

Covalent compounds typically have weaker intermolecular forces compared to the strong electrostatic forces present in ionic compounds. This results in covalent compounds having lower melting points as less energy is required to break the intermolecular forces and transition from solid to liquid. Additionally, covalent compounds generally have a more disordered structure, which further contributes to their lower melting points.


What form do ionic compounds have when they are solid?

Ionic compounds typically form crystalline solid structures when they are in their solid form. In these structures, positively and negatively charged ions are held together in a repeating pattern known as a crystal lattice. This arrangement results in the characteristic properties of ionic compounds, such as high melting and boiling points.


Are ionic compounds usually liquids or gasses?

Ionic compounds are typically solid at room temperature. They have high melting and boiling points due to the strong electrostatic forces between the ions in the crystal lattice. However, there are some exceptions where ionic compounds can be liquids, like molten salts or certain ionic liquids.


What is a physical property of ionic compounds in their solid state?

Ionic compounds in their solid state tend to have high melting and boiling points due to the strong electrostatic forces holding the ions together in a lattice structure. Additionally, they are often brittle and have low electrical conductivity in their solid state.