What is the melting point of ionic compounds?

1 Answer
anor277
May 5, 2016

Well, it's usually high.

Explanation:

Ionic compounds are non-molecular species, and melting requires that the strong ionic bonds that constitute the electrostatic lattice be disrupted. It clearly requires high temperatures.

By way of example, sodium chloride has a melting point of #801# #""^@C#, sodium fluoride, #993# #""^@C#, sodium bromide, #747# #""^@C#, and sodium iodide, #661# #""^@C#. Given the size of the anion, can you rationalize the observed melting points?

Related questions
See all questions in Properties of ionic, covalent, and metallic compounds
Impact of this question
6706 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License