http://www.ck12.org Chapter 8. Ionic and Metallic Bonding
FIGURE 8.8
Dissolution of NaCl.FIGURE 8.9
Conductivity of ionic solutions.Lesson Summary
- Ionic bonds are electrostatic attractions between two oppositely charged ions. Ions can be formed and then
bonded when metal atoms donate their valence electrons to nonmetal atoms. - The ions in ionic compounds are arranged in rigid three-dimensional patterns called crystal lattices. The
crystal lattice that is formed is a characteristic property of a given compound. - We can indirectly measure the energy necessary to break apart a given lattice into its isolated ions. We call this
value the lattice energy, and it gives us one way to measure the strength of the ionic bonds in that compound. - Ionic compounds have the following properties: (1) they form crystals; (2) they have high melting/boiling
points; (3) they are hard and brittle; (4) they can conduct electricity when dissolved in water. - Dissolution is a process in which water interacts with the ions in a crystal lattice, causing the lattice to break
apart.