C3.4 - Giant Ionic Structures

• Every ionic compound has a giant structure. The oppositely charged ions in these structures are held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction. These act in all directions in the giant lattice, resulting in relatively high melting points
• Ionic compounds have high melting points because they require a lot of energy to overcome the forces between all the positive and negative ions. They are all solids at room temperature
• Ionic compounds will conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in water. This is because their ions can then become mobile and can carry charge through the liquid