IONIC COMPOUNDS vs COVALENT COMPOUNDS: VOLATILITY, ELECTRICAL

CONDUCTIVITY AND SOLUBILITY

1. The diagram below shows the cross and diagram for lithium fluoride (valence electrons shown
only)

A. Is lithium fluoride an ionic compound or covalent compound

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B. Give a reason for your answer in Question A above

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C. Draw a cross and dot diagram for methane (CH 4). Show only the valence electrons.

D. Lithium fluoride above involves a metal cation bonding with a nonmetal anion, where an
electron is lost by the metal and transferred to the nonmetal.

Using the diagram which you have drawn in Question C for methane above, name two ways in
which a covalent bond is different from an ionic bond.

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2. What is meant by a substance being volatile
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3. Can a nonpolar substance dissolve in water. Give a reason for your answer.

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4. In order to be electrically conductive, what must a substance have

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5. Complete the following summary table

Ionic Compound Covalent Compound

Volatility

Solubility

Electrical Conductivity

6. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a polar ionic compound. It is soluble in water but not in benzene.
Explain why this is the case.

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7. Ammonia (NH3) and methane (CH4) are both covalent compounds. However only ammonia is
soluble in water. Explain why this is the case.

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8. Sodium chloride (NaCl) does not conduct electricity in solid state. However, when dissolved in
water, it is able to conduct electricity. Explain why this is the case.

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