Are you about to take your O-Level Chemistry exam in the coming months? Formed as a consequence of electronegativity differences between elements, ionic compounds cover an important part of the O-Level chemistry exam.
In O-Level chemistry, you learn about the physical properties of an ionic compound. The three physical properties are solubility, melting point, and boiling point. In this post, we’ll give you an in-depth insight into ionic compound characteristics and examples. Stay tuned for more O-Level chemistry content!
All You Need to Know About Ionic Compounds
Ionic Compounds Properties
Characterized by strong ionic bonds, ionic compounds form when electrons shift from one atom to another, resulting in a net positive charge on one atom and a net negative charge on the other. Ionic compounds are typically crystalline in structure, with the ions arranged in a repeating lattice.
- Melting and Boiling Points
Ionic compounds are generally hard and brittle and have high melting and boiling points due to the strong electrostatic forces of attraction within the ions.
- Solubility
Ionic compounds are soluble in water due to the presence of dipole-dipole forces. However, they are insoluble in non-polar solvents.
- Electrical Conductivity
Ionic compounds are good conductors of electricity in molten or dissolved states as they are motile and can carry a charge.
All these ionic compound characteristics make them ideal for use in many industrial and commercial applications.
Examples of Ionic Compounds
Take a look at some examples of ionic compounds mentioned below.
- sodium chloride (table salt)- NaCl
- Magnesium oxide- MgO
- Aluminum oxide- Al₂O₃
- Potassium phosphate- K3PO4
- Sodium hydroxide- NaOH
For example, table salt is essential for food flavoring, construction and manufacturing industries use magnesium oxide, and aluminum oxide is present in abrasives and ceramics.
Ionic Compounds Uses
Ionic compounds have a wide variety of uses in industries.
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Cleaning Products
Ionic compounds are used in the production of detergents and other cleaning products. Sodium bicarbonate is known as washing soda.
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Mining Industry
The mining industry uses ionic compounds such as calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide for mineral extraction.
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Preservatives
The food industry uses ionic compounds as preservatives and flavorings. The addition of sodium tetraborate in packaged food products is an example of the use of ionic compounds in the food industry.
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Skincare Products
Ionic compounds play an important role in the cosmetics industry as active ingredients in skincare products. The use of calcium phosphate in eye shadow palettes and blushers is a common example.
Ionic Compound Structure
Ionic compounds are made up of a metal and a non-metal. The metal gives up electrons to the non-metal, forming an ionic bond. This bond is strong because the ions are attracted to each other by the electrostatic force.
Ionic compounds have a crystal structure. The metal ions are surrounded by non-metal ions in a regular pattern. This gives the compound its strength and stability.
The properties of ionic compounds depend on the size of the ions and the number of electrons that are transferred from the metal to the non-metal. The bigger the ions, the stronger the electrostatic force between them, and the more stable the compound.
Ionic Character Formula
An ionic compound is a compound made up of ions. Ions are atoms that have gained or lost electrons, and as a result, have a charge. Ionic compounds are held together by the electrostatic attraction between the positive and negative ions.
The ionic character of a compound is the ratio of the number of ions to the number of atoms in the compound. The higher the ionic character, the more ionic the compound.
The ionic character can be calculated using the following formula: IC = (number of ions) / (number of atoms) For example, if you have a compound with two sodium atoms and one chlorine atom, the formula would be: IC = (2 + 1) / (2 + 1) which would give you an ionic character of 1.
Concluding Remarks
As you can see, ionic compounds have a wide range of uses in industries. The industrial application of ionic compounds is quite high because of their durability and strength. Their unique chemical properties make them versatile and effective at performing a number of tasks.
The chemistry groups at Noon are all-set to scale your performance in the O-Level chemistry exam. Download the Noon App and join our live chemistry sessions. Get the A* you have been aiming for since the beginning of your O-Level.