Explain the physical properties of ionic compounds
- High temperatures are needed to provide a large quantity of energy and overcome the strong electrostatic forces between the oppositely charged ions in the ionic lattice. The melting points are higher for lattices containing ions with greater ionic charges. It also depends on the size of the atom
- When an ionic compound dissolves in a polar solvents (such as water), polar water molecules break down the lattice and surround each ion. However, if the attractions in the giant ionic lattice is greater, then solubility decreases (as ionic charge increases)
- In a solid state, ionic compounds do not conduct electricity as the ions are in fixed positions and there are no mobile charge carriers. But when liquid or molten they can conduct electricity as the ions are now free to move as mobile charge carriers
- The two O-H bonds each have a permanent dipole. The two dipoles act in different directions but do not exactly oppose each other. This means overall the oxygen at the end of the molecule has a delta- charge and the hydrogen has a delta+
- CO2 is non-polar. The 2 C-O bonds have a permanent dipole, however they act in opposite directions and oppose each other. This means the dipoles cancel and the overall dipole is 0
London forces are the weakest out of the intermolecular forces and exist between all molecules (whether polar or non-polar).
- Movement of electrons creates a changing dipole. At any instant, an instantaneous dipole will exist which induces a dipole on the neighbouring molecule. The induced dipole induces further dipoles on neighbouring molecules - which then attract each other
The more electrons in each molecule OR the bigger the atom, the larger the instantaneous and induced dipoles, the greater the induced dipole-dipole interactions and therefore the greater the attractive force. More energy is then needed to overcome the intermolecular forces - increasing the boiling point
Hydrogen bonds hold water molecules apart in an open lattice structure. This means water molecule in ice are further apart than in water - therefore solid ice is less dense than liquid water and floats
Water has London forces, permanent dipole-dipole interactions AND hydrogen bonding. This means that a large quantity of energy is needed to break the hydrogen bonds in water (therefore it has a higher melting and boiling point)
- Low melting and boiling point:The weak intermolecular forces can be broken with little energy
- Solubility: Simple molecule substances tend to be soluble in non-polar solvents (interactions between solvent and molecules weakens the intermolecular forces in the simple molecular lattice) and are not soluble in polar solvents (there is little interaction between molecules in the lattice and solvent molecules)
- Does not conduct electricity: There are no mobile charged particles that can move and carry charge