Ionic Compounds Simple Covalent Compounds

Property Reason Property Reason

They are 1. Ions are They are often 1. Simple
crystalline solids arranged in a liquid or gases covalent
at room regular at room substances
temperature arrangement temperature consist of small
forming a lattice molecules.
2. Ions of the 2. The forces
opposite charge between the
are next to each molecules are
other, held by weak, the
strong molecules are
electrostatic not held
force of together tightly
attraction. as the particles
in a solid, but
are free to
move.
They have high 1. Ions are held They have low 1. In simple
melting and together by melting and covalent
boiling points strong boiling points molecules, the
electrostatic covalent bonds
force of between the
attraction. atoms are
2. To melt an strong. However
ionic compound, the forces
a large amount between the
of heat is molecules are
needed to break weak. These
the strong forces are easily
attractive forces broken.
holding the ions 2. Note that
together. during melting
or boiling, only
the molecules
separate; the
atoms in the
molecules do
not separate.
They are often 1. The charged They are usually Simple covalent
soluble in water ions attract the insoluble in molecules do
but insoluble in water water but not have
organic solvents molecules, soluble in charged ions, so
which disrupts they do not
 the lattice organic solvents attract water
structure, such as petrol. molecules.
causing the ions Hence they do
to separate and not dissolve in
go into the water.
solution.
2. The ions do
not attract
molecules of
organic solvents
and so the solid
does not
dissolve.
They conduct 1. The ions are They do NOT To conduct
electricity when free to move in conduct electricity
molten or when the molten state electricity substances
dissolved in or when must contain
water but do not dissolved in either ions or
conduct water. The electrons that
electricity in moving ions are free to
solid state. carry the electric move. Simple
current. covalent
2. In solid state molecules
the ions are not contain neither.
free to move so So they do not
the current conduct
cannot flow. electricity.