5.0 CHEMICAL BONDS THE PROPERTIES OF IONIC AND COVALENT COMPOUNDS

THE PROPERTIES OF IONIC AND COVALENT COMPOUNDS IONIC COMPOUNDS COVALENT COMPOUNDS

PROPERTIES OF IONIC COMPOUNDS Exists as solids at room temperature High melting and boiling points Conduct electricity in aqueous solution or molten state. Usually dissolve in water Usually do not dissolve in organic solvents.

PROPERTIES OF COVALENT COMPOUNDS May exists as solids, liquids or gases. Low melting and boiling points. Do not conduct electricity. Usually do not dissolve in water. Usually dissolve in organic solvents.

Melting and boiling points of ionic compounds Ions in ionic compounds are held together by strong ionic bonds. It take a lot of energy to overcome the strong electrostatic forces that are holding the ions together .

Melting and boiling points of covalent compounds Covalent compounds are held together by weak intermolecular forces. Less heat energy is required to overcome these forces.

Electrical conductivity in ionic compounds In solid ionic compounds, ions are fixed in positions in the crystal lattice structure. Does not move freely. Thus, it does not conduct electricity in the solid state. But, in aqueous solution or molten state, ions are free to move. Hence, it can conduct electricity.

Electricity conduct in covalent compounds A covalent compounds consists of neutral molecules. Hence, covalent compounds does not conduct electricity in all states.