Ionic compounds are made up of cations (positively-charged) and anions (negatively-charged). These particles are held together in a 3-dimensional lattice, with every ion having multiple bonds to neighbouring ions (of the opposite charge).
The particles (ions) are held together by very strong ionic bonds. Ionic bonds are directional electrostatic attracts between the oppositely-charged ions. This is what gives the bond its strength, and makes it inflexible.
Ionic Compounds have characteristic properties:
- high/very high melting and boiling points
- electrical insulators as solids
- electrical conductors as liquids and solutions
- hard and brittle
- only soluble in polar solvents
We have to use our understanding of their structure (a lattice of cations and anions) and bonding (directional electrostatic attractions called ionic bonds) to explain each of these properties.
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