Thursday, February 10, 2011

Physical properties of ionic vs covalent substances

From this point onwards I'm gonna use chemical symbols because you must be exposed to it in order to improve your chemistry.
1. Melting and Boiling point
Ionic compound- For instance, sodium chloride melts and boils at very high temperatures or we can call it extreme temperatures. This is because the bonds are relativly strong thus it is hard to break them. A super strong heat is needed to break their molecule force.
Covalent compound- For instance, Hydrogen oxide(h2o) has a low boiling and melting points. This means that the bond within the molecules are weak so they can easily be changed into gaseous state or solid states.
2. Volatility
Ionic compound- The bonds within each molecules are strong so it is difficult for the molecules to break up. That is why usually ionic compound exist in solid states, and why there's no smell from them.
Covalent compound- The bonds within each molecules are weak so little heat energy is needed to break their bonds within the molecules. That is why usually we can smell the sweet perfumes.
Volatile are substances that can be evaporated easily. Such example would be Hydrogen oxide.
non-volatile are substances that cannot be evaporated easily. Such example would be Sodium Chloride.
3. Electrical Conductivity
Ionic compound- They do not conduct electricity in solid states because the ions are not moving. They do not have enough energy to move about in solid state. Only when in liquid or dissolve in water can conduct electricity because their ions can move more freely in liquid states.
Covalent compound- They do not conduct electricity at all because they are sharing electrons not transfering electrons. Covalent compounds do not have ions so current cannot flow. If you're taking physics you can ask me. People taking biology don't have to know why.
4. Solubility
Ionic compound- Some can dissolve in water. Sodium chloride can be found in salt waters.
Covalent compound- They can be dissolve in organic solvent but not water. This is biology now wahaha. Example, there are such thing called tringlyceride that can be dissolved in human fats to provide energy.

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