Which statement is true about ionic compounds? Solid ionic compounds are good conductors of electricity. Ionic compounds have varying solubilities in water. Ionic compounds have very low melting points. Ionic compounds are very easy to bend.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The statement that is true about ionic compounds is: Ionic compounds have varying solubilities in water.
Explanation:
Ionic compounds are formed through the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. This strong ionic bond gives rise to distinct physical properties. Here are some key characteristics of ionic compounds:
- Solubility in Water: Ionic compounds exhibit varying degrees of solubility in water, primarily due to the strength of their ionic bonds and the nature of the ions involved. For instance, sodium chloride (NaCl) is highly soluble in water, while barium sulfate (BaSO₄) is poorly soluble. The solubility of an ionic compound in water depends on the balance between the energy released when the ions interact with water molecules (hydration energy) and the energy required to break the ionic lattice (lattice energy). If the hydration energy is greater than the lattice energy, the compound will dissolve.
- Electrical Conductivity: While ionic compounds can conduct electricity, they only do so when they are either dissolved in water (aqueous state) or melted (molten state). In solid form, the ions are fixed in place within the crystal lattice and cannot move freely, rendering them poor conductors of electricity.
- Melting Points: Ionic compounds typically have high melting points due to the strong electrostatic forces holding the ions together. For example, sodium chloride has a melting point of about 801 °C.
- Brittleness: Ionic compounds are not easy to bend. Instead, they are brittle; applying force can shift the layers of ions, causing like charges to align and repel each other, leading to the fracture of the material.
In summary, while ionic compounds do have varying solubilities and exhibit high melting points and brittleness, they only conduct electricity when in aqueous or molten form.