ionic

• high melting and boiling point
• because of the electrostatic forces holding the ionic lattice together are strong and require a lot of energy to overcome
• when molten or in solution, ionic substances can conduct electricity
• in this state, the ions separate and are no longer held in a lattice
• they are free to move and carry a flow of charge, an electrical current
• ionic substances are often brittle materials
• when the layers of alternating charges are distorted, like charges repel, breaking apart the lattice into fragments