Properties of

Ionic Compounds and Covalent Compounds

IONIC COMPOUND COVALENT COMPOUND
Electrical Conductivity
cannot conduct electricity in the solid cannot conduct electricity in all states.
state but can conduct electricity in the
molten state and aqueous solution

Solubility in Water and Organic Solvents

soluble in water but are not soluble in not soluble in water but are soluble in
organic solvents. organic solvents

Melting Point and Boiling Point

high melting point and boiling point low melting point and boiling point.
 Electrical Conductivity
IONIC COMPOUND COVALENT COMPOUND

cannot conduct electricity in the solid state but

can conduct electricity in the molten state and
aqueous solution

Cannot conduct electricity IN ALL STATES.

solid ionic compound cannot conduct electricity

BECAUSE the IONS are tied by strong
electrostatic attraction forces and IONS cannot
move freely.
BECAUSE molecules are neutral and do not carry
any charge.
Molten or aqueous solution of ionic compound
can conduct electricity BECAUSE electrostatic
attraction forces have been overcomed and IONS
move freely.
 Solubility in Water and Organic Solvents
IONIC COMPOUND COVALENT COMPOUND
Soluble in water but are not soluble in Soluble in organic solvents but not soluble
organic solvents. in water

Water is a polar solvent that has partial negative

charge at the oxygen atom and partial positive charge
Molecules in a covalent compound are
at the hydrogen atom.
neutral and do not carry any charges

Cations will be attracted to the oxygen atom of water

molecule while anion will be attracted to the hydrogen
atom of water molecule.

Attraction force between atom of water molecules with

the ions of ionic compound are strong enough to
overcome electrostatic attraction force between ions.

Organic solvents cannot overcome electrostatic forces

between ions in a solid ionic compound.
 Melting Point and Boiling Point
IONIC COMPOUND COVALENT COMPOUND
high melting point and boiling point low melting point and boiling point

Simple covalent molecule are attracted

The cations and anions attracted one another by one another by weak Van der Waals
strong electrostatic attraction forces. forces.

High heat energy is required to overcome the strong Less heat energy is required to
electrostatic attraction forces overcome the weak Van der Waals
attraction forces

So high melting point and boiling point. So low melting point and boiling point.