Ionic compounds crystalline structure

An ionic compound typically contains a multitude of ions grouped together in a highly ordered three-dimensional array. In sodium chloride, for example, each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions and each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions (Figure 6.11). Overall there is one sodium ion for each chloride ion, but there are no identifiable sodium-chloride pairs. Such an orderly array of ions is known as an ionic crystal. On the atomic level, the crystalline structure of sodium chloride is cubic, which is why macroscopic crystals of table salt are also cubic. Smash a large cubic sodium chloride crystal with a hammer, and what do you get Smaller cubic sodium chloride crystals Similarly, the crystalline structures of other ionic compounds, such as calcium fluoride and aluminum oxide, are a consequence of how the ions pack together. 

An ionically bonded molecule (NaCl). (a) A sodium atom (Na) can donate the one electron in its valence shell to a chlorine atom (Cl), which has seven electrons in its outermost shell. The resulting ions (Na+ and CP) bond to form the compound sodium chloride (NaCl). The octet rule has been satisfied, (b) The ions that constitute NaCl form a regular crystalline structure in the solid state. 

Solid phases of binary systems, like the liquid phases, are very commonly of variable composition. Here, as with the liquid, the stable range of composition is larger, the more similar the two components are. This of course is quite c-ontrary to the chemists notion of definite chemical composition, definite structural formulas, etc., but those notions are really of extremely limited application. It happens that the solid phases in the system water—ionic compound are often of rather definite composition, and it is largely from this rather special case that the idea of definite compositions in solids has become so firmly rooted. In such a system, there are normally two solid phases ice and the crystalline ionic compound. Ice can take up practically none of any ionic compound, so that it has practically no range of compositions. And many ionic crystals... 

The polarity of molecules like water has very significant effects on the behavior of these compounds. If you recall in ionic compounds, the oppositely charged ions attract each other and form large crystalline structures. A similar process occurs between polar molecules, but we describe these as intermolecular forces. There are three main intermolecular forces we need to examine. All three of these forces are known as van der Waals forces and are specifically called hydrogen-bonding forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces. 

B) The metallic bonds allow for free movement of valence electrons within elemental copper. This allows greater conductivity. Copper chloride, on the other hand, is an ionic solid, where the electrons are all held tightly within the crystalline structure of the compound. Tightly bound electrons can t support the flow of electric current. 

Since the Braggs first determination, thousands of structures, most of them far more complicated than that of sodium chloride, have been determined by x-ray diffraction. For covalently bonded low molecular weight species (such as benzene, iodine, or stannic chloride), it is often of interest to see just how the discrete molecules are packed together in the crystalline state, but the crystal structures affect the chemistry of such substances only to a minor degree. However, for most predominantly ionic compounds, for metals, and for a large number of substances in which atoms are covalently bound into chains, sheets, or three dimensional networks, their chemistry is very largely determined by the structure of the solid. 

When many ionic compounds are crystallized from a water solution, they include individual water molecules as part of their crystalline structure. If the substances are heated, this water of crystallization may be driven off and leave behind the pure anhydrous form of the compound. Because the law of multiple proportions also applies to crystalline hydrates, the number of moles of water driven off per mole of the anhydrous compound should be a simple whole-number ratio. You can use this information to help you determine the formula of the hydrate. 

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