the only property listed that is not characteristic of ionic compounds is
A.high melting point.
B.hardness.
C.lack of crystal structure
D.brittleness
I will be happy to critique your thinking on this.
To determine which of the given properties is not characteristic of ionic compounds, let's analyze each option:
A. High melting point: Ionic compounds generally have high melting points due to the strong electrostatic forces of attraction between the positively and negatively charged ions. Therefore, a high melting point is considered a characteristic of ionic compounds.
B. Hardness: Ionic compounds tend to be hard due to the lattice structure formed by repeating positive and negative ions. The strong electrostatic forces between these ions contribute to the hardness of the compound. Hence, hardness is also a characteristic of ionic compounds.
C. Lack of crystal structure: This statement is incorrect. Ionic compounds exhibit a regular crystal structure arranged in a repeating pattern due to the strong ionic bonds between positively and negatively charged ions. Therefore, ionic compounds have a definite crystal structure.
D. Brittleness: Ionic compounds are generally brittle due to the rigid arrangement of ions in the crystal lattice. When a force is applied, the ions of the lattice shift, causing like charges to come in close proximity, resulting in repulsion and the compound breaking apart. So, brittleness is indeed a characteristic of ionic compounds.
Based on the analysis, none of the properties listed are incorrect for ionic compounds. Hence, the answer is none of the above options (E) - All of the listed properties are characteristic of ionic compounds.