What is a property of an ionic compound?
Select all that apply.
conducts electricity and heat efficiently
insulates against heat and electricity
remains intact when soaked in water
resists melting at high temperatures
Resists melting at high temps
conducts electricity and heat efficiently
The properties of an ionic compound are:
1. Conducts electricity and heat efficiently: Ionic compounds conduct electricity when dissolved in water or in a molten state.
2. Insulates against heat and electricity: Ionic compounds are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity in their solid state.
3. Remains intact when soaked in water: Ionic compounds are usually stable and do not easily dissolve when soaked in water. However, some ionic compounds are water soluble and can dissolve in water.
4. Resists melting at high temperatures: Ionic compounds generally have high melting points and require a significant amount of heat to melt them.
To determine the properties of an ionic compound, we need to understand what an ionic compound is. Ionic compounds are formed by the combination of positive and negative ions, typically a metal and a nonmetal. The properties of an ionic compound can be explained based on its structure and the interactions between the ions. Now, let's go through each option:
1. Conducts electricity and heat efficiently: This property is indeed a characteristic of an ionic compound. When dissolved in water or in a molten state, ionic compounds can conduct electricity. The ions are free to move and carry electric charge. Additionally, due to the strong electrostatic forces between ions, ionic compounds typically have high melting and boiling points, ensuring efficient heat transfer.
2. Insulates against heat and electricity: This option is not true for ionic compounds. In fact, ionic compounds are good conductors of electricity when in aqueous solution or molten state. They do not insulate against heat or electricity.
3. Remains intact when soaked in water: This statement is partially accurate. Ionic compounds are typically soluble in water, meaning that they can dissociate into their respective ions when in contact with water, forming a solution. However, the compound itself remains intact in terms of its chemical composition.
4. Resists melting at high temperatures: This statement is also correct. Due to the strong electrostatic forces between the positive and negative ions, ionic compounds generally have high melting points. Therefore, they resist melting at high temperatures.
So, the correct options would be:
- Conducts electricity and heat efficiently
- Resists melting at high temperatures