Properties of giant ionic structures
I can describe the properties of ionic compounds and explain how they result from the ionic structure model.
- Year 10
- AQA
Properties of giant ionic structures
I can describe the properties of ionic compounds and explain how they result from the ionic structure model.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In a giant ionic structure there are strong electrostatic forces in all directions between oppositely charged particles.
- Ionic compounds have high melting points and high boiling points because strong ionic bonds need to be broken.
- Most ionic substances can dissolve in water.
- The ions of ionic compounds dissolved in water are free to move around and the solution can conduct electricity.
- The ions of ionic compounds that are in the liquid state are free to move around and the liquid can conduct electricity.
Keywords
Conductor - A conductor is a substance that allows charge or energy to flow through it easily due to the presence of delocalised electrons.
Melting point - The temperature at which a substance changes from solid state to a liquid state.
Charge carrier - A particle that enables electrical conductivity, such as delocalised electrons or free–moving ions.
Dissolve - When a substance's particles separate and spread throughout the particles of a solvent resulting in it no longer being seen.
Solubility - The ability of a substance to dissolve in a particular solvent creating a solution; how well a solute dissolves in a solvent.
Common misconception
There are several misconceptions associated with properties such as when something dissolves it disappears, electrical conductivity is a flow of electrons rather than charge.
When discussing electrical conductivity, emphasise the idea of electrical conductivity being a flow charge with ions behaving as charge carriers. The electron transfer that occurs during ion formation is nothing to do with conductivity.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the symbol (aq) stand for?
Q2.Which of the following describes an ionic bond?
Q3.How is the cation Mg²⁺ formed?
Q4.Lithium is a metal found in Group 1, Period 2 on the periodic table. What is the charge on a lithium ion?
Q5.Why do non–metal atoms gain electrons to form anions?
Q6.A phosphorus atom has 15 electrons in total. How many electrons are there in the outer shell of a phosphorus atom?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following terms to the correct definitions.
