BRAINCAKEStructure and Properties of Ionic Compounds
Ions attract oppositely charged ions in all directions resulting in a giant ionic lattice. A ionic bond is non-directional. Each ion is surrounded by ions of the opposite charge.
These strong electrostatic forces of attraction mean that ionic compounds have a high melting and boiling point. Almost all ionic compounds are solids at room temperature. Lattices containing ions with greater charges have higher melting points. The size of the electrostatic attraction is greater for smaller ions.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Ion
- A positively or negatively charged atom or group of atoms, formed by the loss or gain of electrons.
- Ionic bonding
- The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
More in Electrons and Bonding
- Electron Structure
- Filling of Orbitals and Electron Pairing
- Ionic Bonding
- Covalent Bonding
- Single, Double and Triple Bonds
- Dative Covalent Bonds
All 7 lessons in Electrons and Bonding · All OCR AS-level Chemistry topics