Ionic lattice structure

Question 1

what are ionic compounds made up of?

Answer 1

Ionic compounds are made up of metal and non-metal ions joined together by ionic bonds. (exception- ammonium(NH4+) compounds do not contain metal ions.)

Question 2

How can the formation of ions be shown?

Answer 2

The formation of ions can be shown by drawing ion-electron equations. Some of these can be found in the data booklet on page 10.

Question 3

What does an ion-electron equation show?

Answer 3

An ion-electron equation shows the number of electrons lost at the right-hand side (like calcium) and the number of electrons gained at the left-hand side. ( like phosphorous)

Question 4

What is a lattice structure?

Answer 4

An ionic substance consists of a lattice structure of oppositely charged ions with each positive ion surrounded by negative ions, and each negative ion surrounded by positive ions.

Question 5

Why do ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points?

Answer 5

Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because lots of energy is needed to break the strong ionic bonds in the lattice.