Network solids are held together by covalent bonds to each other. They're usually very hard and have high melting points, and are also poor heat and electrical conductors. Think of diamond and graphite. These are covalent network solids.
Molecular solids, on the other hand, are molecules held together by weak intermolecular forces (such as dipole-dipole, ion-dipole, or London dispersion forces). These are usually soft with low melting points, and are also poor conductors of heat and electricity. Some examples of molecular solids would be carbon dioxide and benzene.
The way I think about it, to help it make more sense to me, is that in covalent network solids, each atom is BONDED to all the other atoms around it. In molecular solids, you have completely separate molecules that are just weakly held together by intermolecular forces, they're not actually bonded to each other.
In network solids, attractive forces like covalent bonds, ionic bonds, and metallic bonds stabilize the structure. These strong bonds between atoms or ions help maintain the rigid and three-dimensional network structure of network solids.
Ionic bonds are generally stronger than covalent bonds. Ionic bonds are formed between ions with opposite charges, resulting in a strong electrostatic attraction. Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, which are generally not as strong as the electrostatic forces in ionic bonds.
Molecular solids
Covalent solids and molecular solids typically have lower melting points than ionic solids. This is because the intermolecular forces holding covalent and molecular solids together are generally weaker than the electrostatic forces binding ionic solids, resulting in lower energy requirements for melting.
Ionic solids tend to be the strongest because they have strong electrostatic forces between positively and negatively charged ions. Metallic solids have a delocalized electron sea that allows for high conductivity but not necessarily the same level of strength as ionic solids. Covalent solids have strong covalent bonds but may not be as strong as ionic solids due to the lack of strong electrostatic interactions.
It can be categorised into -Ionic -Covalent molecular -Metallic -Covalent network
Covalent network solids and molecular solids typically have lower melting points than ionic solids. Covalent network solids, like diamond or graphite, have strong covalent bonds throughout the structure, but their overall melting points can vary based on the specific material. Molecular solids, made up of discrete molecules held together by weaker intermolecular forces (such as van der Waals forces or hydrogen bonds), generally have much lower melting points compared to the strong ionic bonds found in ionic solids.
No, covalent is stronger
In network solids, attractive forces like covalent bonds, ionic bonds, and metallic bonds stabilize the structure. These strong bonds between atoms or ions help maintain the rigid and three-dimensional network structure of network solids.
Ionic
Ionic bonds are generally stronger than covalent bonds. Ionic bonds are formed between ions with opposite charges, resulting in a strong electrostatic attraction. Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, which are generally not as strong as the electrostatic forces in ionic bonds.
Molecular solids
Covalent solids and molecular solids typically have lower melting points than ionic solids. This is because the intermolecular forces holding covalent and molecular solids together are generally weaker than the electrostatic forces binding ionic solids, resulting in lower energy requirements for melting.
In almost all cases, ionic bonds are stronger than covalent bonds. Although there are exceptions such as diamond and graphite.
Hard crystals are typically formed by ionic compounds, covalent network solids, or metallic solids. Ionic compounds, like sodium chloride, consist of positively and negatively charged ions arranged in a regular lattice structure. Covalent network solids, such as diamond and quartz, feature atoms connected by strong covalent bonds throughout the entire structure. Metallic solids consist of metal cations surrounded by a sea of delocalized electrons, which contribute to their hardness and strength.
Ionic solids tend to be the strongest because they have strong electrostatic forces between positively and negatively charged ions. Metallic solids have a delocalized electron sea that allows for high conductivity but not necessarily the same level of strength as ionic solids. Covalent solids have strong covalent bonds but may not be as strong as ionic solids due to the lack of strong electrostatic interactions.
HNO3 (nitric acid) is ionic.