Properties of substances with giant ionic structure
Property
Melting & boiling point
High melting & boiling point
Generally exist as solids at room
temperature and pressure
Hardness
Ionic compounds are hard
Ionic compounds are brittle
Electrical Conductivity
Unable to conduct electricity in
solid state
Able to conduct electricity in
1
molten and aqueous state
1
Liquid state
Explanation
It has a giant ionic structure. Large amount of
energy is needed to overcome strong
electrostatic forces of attractions b/w
oppositely charged ions
It has a giant ionic structure. Large amount of
energy is needed to overcome strong
electrostatic forces of attractions b/w
oppositely charged ions
It has a giant ionic structure. Ions of the same
charge will repel each other when layers of
ions slide over each other
It has a giant ionic structure
In solid state, the oppositely charged ions can
only vibrate about their fixed positions.
Hence, there are no free-moving ions to
conduct electricity
In the aqueous/molten state, there are mobile
ions to conduct electricity
Properties of substances with giant ionic structure

Property Explanation

Solubility

Most ionic compounds are soluble in Water or other polar molecules can
water and other polar solvents like form ion-dipole interactions with ions
ethanol

Usually insoluble in non-polar solvents No effective interactions b/w ions and

like hexane molecules of non-polar solvents

Properties of substances with giant covalent structure

Property Explanation

Melting & boiling point Diamond & graphite

High melting & boiling point It has a giant covalent structure

Large amount of energy is needed to
overcome strong covalent bonds b/w atoms

Hardness It has giant covalent structure

Diamond is very hard Large amount of energy is needed to

● Used as a cutting tool or
drill bit to cut hard objects
like glass & rocks
Graphite is soft and slippery
● Used as a lubricant
● Used in pencil lead
overcome strong covalent bonds b/w carbon
atoms
The layers of carbon atoms are held by weak
intermolecular forces and can slide over each
other easily
Electrical conductivity
Diamond is unable to conduct
electricity
Graphite is able to conduct
electricity
Solubility
Insoluble in water
Properties of substances with simple covalent structure
Property
Melting & boiling point
Low melting & boiling point
Many substances with simple
covalent structures are liquids
It has a giant covalent structure
Each carbon atom uses up all 4 of its valence
electrons to form covalent bonds with 4
other carbon atoms
It does not have any delocalised electron to
conduct electricity
Each carbon atom uses 3 out 4 of its valence
electrons to form covalent bonds with 3
other carbon atom
Each carbon atom has 1 valence electron not
used in bonding; it is delocalised and is able to
conduct electricity
Strong covalent bonds b/w carbon atoms
require a lot of energy to overcome
Explanation
It consists of small, discrete molecules with
simple covalent structure
Only a small amount of energy needed to
overcome the weak intermolecular forces of
and gases at room temp
e.g. CO2 , H2 , CH4
Electrical conductivity
Generally unable to conduct
electricity in any state
Some exceptions (covered in acids Substances like ammonia can ionise in water
and bases): ammonia, hydrogen
chloride, sulphur dioxide
Solubility
Most molecules with simple
covalent structures are insoluble
in water
Properties of substances with giant metallic structure
Property
Melting & boiling point
Generally high melting & boiling
point
Exceptions: grp 1 metals (low m.p
and b.p.)
attraction
Note: strong covalent bonds b/w atoms are
not broken during changes of state
It consists of small discrete molecules with a
simple covalent structure
There are no mobile ions or delocalised
electrons to conduct electricity
to form solutions with mobile ions that can
conduct electricity
Refer to types of of intermolecular forces and
solubility
Explanation
It has a giant metallic structure
Large amount of energy is needed to
overcome the strong electrostatic forces of
attraction b/w metallic cations and ‘sea’ of
delocalised electrons
 Hardness Pure metals consist of layers of atoms of the
same size. When a force is applied, these
Pure metals are malleable and layers of atoms can slide over each other
ductile easily

Electrical conductivity It has giant metallic structure

The sea of delocalised electrons are mobile

and therefore metals can conduct electricity

Solubility Strong electrostatic forces of attraction b/w

metallic cation and sea of delocalised ion
Insoluble in water require a lot of energy to overcome

Properties of substances with giant ionic structure

Property Explanation

Melting & boiling point

High melting & boiling point It has a giant ionic structure. Large amount of energy
Generally exist as solids at room is needed to overcome strong electrostatic forces of
temperature and pressure attractions b/w oppositely charged ions

Hardness It has a giant ionic structure. Large amount of energy

is needed to overcome strong electrostatic forces of
Ionic compounds are hard attractions b/w oppositely charged ions

It has a giant ionic structure. Ions of the same charge

Ionic compounds are brittle will repel each other when layers of ions slide over
each other

Electrical Conductivity
It has a giant ionic structure
Unable to conduct electricity in solid In solid state, the oppositely charged ions can only
state vibrate about their fixed positions. Hence, there are
no free-moving ions to conduct electricity

In the aqueous/molten state, there are mobile ions to

Able to conduct electricity in molten and conduct electricity
aqueous state

Solubility

Most ionic compounds are soluble in Water or other polar molecules can form ion-dipole
water and other polar solvents like interactions with ions
ethanol

Usually insoluble in non-polar solvents No effective interactions b/w ions and molecules of
like hexane non-polar solvents
Properties of substances with giant metallic structure

Property Explanation

Melting & boiling point

Generally high melting & boiling point
Exceptions: grp 1 metals (low m.p and
b.p.)
It has a giant metallic structure
Large amount of energy is needed to overcome the
strong electrostatic forces of attraction b/w metallic
cations and ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons

Hardness Pure metals consist of layers of atoms of the same

size. When a force is applied, these layers of atoms can
Pure metals are malleable and ductile slide over each other easily

Electrical conductivity It has giant metallic structure

The sea of delocalised electrons are mobile and

therefore metals can conduct electricity

Solubility Strong electrostatic forces of attraction b/w metallic

cation and sea of delocalised ion require a lot of
Insoluble in water energy to overcome
Properties of substances with giant covalent structure
Property
Melting & boiling point
High melting & boiling point
Hardness
Diamond is very hard
● Used as a cutting tool or drill bit
to cut hard objects like glass &
rocks
Graphite is soft and slippery
● Used as a lubricant
● Used in pencil lead
Electrical conductivity
Diamond is unable to conduct electricity
Graphite is able to conduct electricity
Solubility
Insoluble in water
Explanation
Diamond & graphite
It has a giant covalent structure
Large amount of energy is needed to overcome strong
covalent bonds b/w atoms
It has giant covalent structure
Large amount of energy is needed to overcome strong
covalent bonds b/w carbon atoms
The layers of carbon atoms are held by weak
intermolecular forces and can slide over each other
easily
It has a giant covalent structure
Each carbon atom uses up all 4 of its valence
electrons to form covalent bonds with 4 other carbon
atoms
It does not have any delocalised electron to conduct
electricity
Each carbon atom uses 3 out 4 of its valence electrons
to form covalent bonds with 3 other carbon atom
Each carbon atom has 1 valence electron not used in
bonding; it is delocalised and is able to conduct
electricity
Strong covalent bonds b/w carbon atoms require a lot
of energy to overcome
Properties of substances with simple covalent structure
Property
Melting & boiling point
Low melting & boiling point
Many substances with simple covalent
structures are liquids and gases at room
temp
e.g. CO2 , H2 , CH4
Electrical conductivity
Generally unable to conduct electricity
in any state
Some exceptions (covered in acids and
bases): ammonia, hydrogen chloride,
sulphur dioxide
Solubility
Most molecules with simple covalent
structures are insoluble in water
Explanation
It consists of small, discrete molecules with simple
covalent structure
Only a small amount of energy needed to overcome
the weak intermolecular forces of attraction
Note: strong covalent bonds b/w atoms are not broken
during changes of state
It consists of small discrete molecules with a simple
covalent structure
There are no mobile ions or delocalised electrons to
conduct electricity
Substances like ammonia can ionise in water to form
solutions with mobile ions that can conduct electricity
Refer to types of of intermolecular forces and
solubility