Ionic substances form giant ionic lattices containing oppositely charged ions.

They have high

melting and boiling points, and conduct electricity when melted or dissolved in water.
Simple molecular substances consist of molecules in which the atoms are joined by strong covalent
bonds. Their molecules are held together by weak forces, so these substances have low melting and
boiling points. They do not conduct electricity.
Giant covalent structures contain many atoms joined together by covalent bonds to form a giant
lattice. They have high melting and boiling points. Graphite and diamond have different properties
because they have different structures. Graphite conducts heat and electricity well because it also
has free electrons.
Nanoparticles are 1-100 nm in size, typically the size of small molecules - far too small to see with
a microscope. They have remarkable properties that are different to the same substance in bulk
form.
Metals form giant structures containing free electrons, making them good conductors of heat and
electricity.

Ionic compounds
Ionic bonds form when a metal reacts with a non-metal. Metals form positive ions; non-metals form
negative ions. Ionic bonds are the electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Positively charged Na ions and negatively charged Cl ions

The oppositely charged ions are arranged in a regular way to form giant ionic lattices. Ionic
compounds often form crystals as a result. The illustration shows part of a sodium chloride (NaCl)
ionic lattice.

Properties of ionic compounds

High melting and boiling points - Ionic bonds are very strong - a lot of energy is needed to
break them. So ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points.
Conductive when liquid - Ions are charged particles, but ionic compounds can only conduct
electricity if their ions are free to move. Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity when
they are solid - only when dissolved in water or melted.

Properties of ionic compounds

Ionic
compound

Properties
High melting point: 800C

Sodium
Non-conductive in its solid state, but when dissolved in water or molten NaCl will
chloride, NaCl
conduct electricity.

Magnesium
oxide, MgO

Higher melting point than sodium chloride: around 2,800C. This is because its
Mg2+ and O2- ions have a greater number of charges, so they form stronger ionic
bonds than the Na+ and Cl- ions in sodium chloride.
Because magnesium oxide stays solid at such high temperatures, it remains nonconductive. It is used for high-temperature electrical insulation.