Properties of Ionic
Compounds
Properties and Uses
Wai Chak Fai (16)
Ken Yuen (21)
Content
 Definition of ionic compounds
 Property of ionic compound
In crystal form
Solubility in water
High melting and boiling point
Conductivity of electricity
 Use of ionic compound
Use as dryers
Use to make pans
 Definition:
An ionic compound is a chemical compound in
which ions are held together in a lattice structure
by ionic bonds.
•Ions in ionic compounds are
held together by the
electrostatic force between
oppositely charged bodies.
Properties
 In crystal form
 Most of the ionic compounds are in crystal form.
Sodium Chloride
Cupric chloride
 Hard and brittle
 They are very hard and firm.
 Each cation and anion are closely joined together
by electrostatic force, thus it is hard to break
down them.
 Solubility in water
 They are soluble in many medium.
 For example:
Sodium Chloride can dissolve in:
glycerol, ethylene glycol, formic acid, water.
Lead(II) Bromide can dissolve in:
ammonia, alkali, KBr, NaBr
 High melting and boiling point
 For example:
Sodium Chloride
Melting point: 801℃
Boiling point: 1465℃
Lead(II) Bromide
Melting point: 373 ℃
Boiling point: 916 ℃
 Conductivity of electricity
 They can conduct electricity
when they are in molten or
aqueous form.
 This process is called as
electrolysis.
Uses of ionic compound
 They can be used as dryers.
As they are soluble in water, they can “absorb” the
water vapors in the air.
That’s why salt becomes dissolved when it is exposed
to the air directly.
 Ionic compounds can carry out electrolysis to make
metals and other useful materials e.g. chlorine.
 They can be used to replace wires as they conduct
electricity in aqueous form.
 Cons: They will be decomposed and give out energy
when the electrical current or voltage is too high.
 They can be used to make saucepans and pans.
 They can resist high temperature.
They are also very hard and brittle.
Conclusion
 We think that the main features of ionic compound are:
the conductivity of electricity and
the high melting and boiling point.
 Their combining methods (ionic bond) are different
form covalent bond.
 We can make use of their features.
The End