Ionic solids structures

Solids with different structures, (a) Diamond, a network covalent solid, (b) Potassium dichromate. K2 2O7, an ionic solid, (c) Manganese, a metallic solid. 

Crystals have definite geometric forms because the atoms or ions present are arranged in a definite, three-dimensional pattern. The nature of this pattern can be deduced by a technique known as x-ray diffraction. Ihe basic information that comes out of such studies has to do with the dimensions and geometric form of the unit cell, the smallest structural unit that, repeated over and over again in three dimensions, generates the crystal In all, there are 14 different kinds of unit cells. Our discussion will be limited to a few of the simpler unit cells found in metals and ionic solids. 

The ionic solids NaCl and KC1 form the same type of crystal structure. In which solid are the ions bound together more strongly by coulombic interactions ... 

Self-Test 2.3A The ionic solids CaO and KCl crystallize to form structures of the same type. In which compound are the interactions between the ions stronger ... 

In this part of the chapter, we begin with molecular solids and distinguish them from network solids. Then we examine metallic solids, which, if consisting of a single element, are built from identical atoms stacked together in orderly arrays. The structures of ionic solids are based on the same kinds of arrays but are complicated by the need to take into account the presence of ions of opposite charges and different sizes. 

In an ionic solid, the coordination number means the number of ions of opposite charge immediately surrounding a specific ion. In the rock-salt structure, the coordination numbers of the cations and the anions are both 6, and the structure overall is described as having (6,6)-coordination. In this notation, the first number is the cation coordination number and the second is that of the anion. The rock-salt structure is found for a number of other minerals having ions of the same charge number, including KBr, Rbl, MgO, CaO, and AgCl. It is common whenever the cations and anions have very different radii, in which case the smaller cations can fit into the octahedral holes in a face-centered cubic array of anions. The radius ratio, p (rho), which is defined as... 

Distinguish metallic solids, ionic solids, network solids, and molecular solids by their structures and by their properties (Sections 5.8-5.11 and 5.14). 

U 12 Predict the structure of an ionic solid from the relative radii of the ions (Example 5.4). 

The dominant features which control the stoichiometry of transition-metal complexes relate to the relative sizes of the metal ions and the ligands, rather than the niceties of electronic configuration. You will recall that the structures of simple ionic solids may be predicted with reasonable accuracy on the basis of radius-ratio rules in which the relative ionic sizes of the cations and anions in the lattice determine the structure adopted. Similar effects are important in determining coordination numbers in transition-metal compounds. In short, it is possible to pack more small ligands than large ligands about a metal ion of a given size. 

Many ionic compounds can have water molecules incorporated into their solid structures. Such compounds are called hydrates. To emphasize the presence of discrete water molecules in the chemical structure, the formula of any hydrate shows the waters of hydration separated from the rest of the chemical formula by a dot. A coefficient before H2 O indicates the number of water molecules in the formula. Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate is a good example. The formula of this beautiful deep blue solid is C11SO4 5 H2 O, indicating that five water molecules are associated with each CuSOq unit. Upon prolonged heating, CuSOq 5 H2 O loses its waters of hydration along with its color. Other examples of hydrates include aluminum nitrate nonahydrate, A1 (N03)3 9 H2 O,... 

The effect of ionizing radiation on molecular or ionic solids is to eject electrons, which often subsequently react at sites in the material well removed from the residual electron-loss centre. These electron-loss and electron-gain centres, or breakdown products thereof, are paramagnetic and have been extensively studied by e.s.r. spectroscopy. Results for a wide range of organo metals both as pure compounds and as dilute solid solutions are used to illustrate this action. Aspects of the electronic structures of these centres are derived from the spectra and aspects of redox mechanisms are discussed. 

When supported complexes are the catalysts, two types of ionic solid were used zeolites and clays. The structures of these solids (microporous and lamellar respectively) help to improve the stability of the complex catalyst under the reaction conditions by preventing the catalytic species from undergoing dimerization or aggregation, both phenomena which are known to be deactivating. In some cases, the pore walls can tune the selectivity of the reaction by steric effects. The strong similarities of zeolites with the protein portion of natural enzymes was emphasized by Herron.20 The protein protects the active site from side reactions, sieves the substrate molecules, and provides a stereochemically demanding void. Metal complexes have been encapsulated in zeolites, successfully mimicking metalloenzymes for oxidation reactions. Two methods of synthesis of such encapsulated/intercalated complexes have been tested, as follows. 

The structures of ionic solids may be accounted for quite accurately by the use of a coulombic interaction potential between neighbouring ion pairs together with a suitable ion-core repulsion. 

Figure 11.3 Arrangement of atoms in an ionic solid such as NaCl. (a) shows a cubic lattice with alternating Na+ and Cl- ions, (b) is a space-filling model of the same structure, in which the small spheres are Na+ ions, the larger Cl-. The structure is described as two interlocking face-centred cubic lattices of sodium and chlorine ions. 

These electrostatic attractions act in all directions. Thus, ionic crystalline solids consist of metal ions are surrounded by non-metal ions and non-metal ions surrounded by metal ions. Therefore, ionic solids do not have a molecular structure. 

Ionic compounds are brittle but not ductile, as is shown in Figure 1. When they are hammered, their structure is disturbed, the hammered part shifts and similar charged ions repel each other and the ionic substance breaks down into smaller pieces. Since movement of the ions disturbs the balance of electrical charge, ionic solids cannot be drawn into wires and are broken easily. 

In this chapter, you will use Lewis structures often to represent molecules and the simplest formula unit of an ionic solid. Drawing a Lewis structure for a molecule lets you see exactly how many electrons are involved in each bond, and helps you to keep track of the number of valence electrons. In the example below, notice that there are two ways to show the bonding pairs of electrons. Some chemists use dots only. 

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