Introduction

Chemical compounds that include both negative as well as positive ions are called ionic compounds. Electrostatic forces, the attractive forces between charges of different poles, are responsible for keeping these ions together. When a metal atom gives up an electron to a nonmetal atom, an ionic compound is created. In this process, atoms of metal and nonmetal both acquire positive charges, making the former an ion and the latter a negatively charged ion.

In general, ionic compounds have elevated boiling and melting temperatures, remaining solid at normal temperatures. This is because it takes a great deal of effort to overcome the electrostatic forces holding the ions together. As the electrostatic interactions between ions are reduced in the water-based molecules, ionic compounds are often soluble in water as well.

Ionic Bonding

Almost all of the minerals and rocks that make up the planet's crust are made up of ions, both positive and negative, that are bound together by electrostatic repulsion and attraction. An ionic compound is a mixture of positive and negative ions that has no net electric charge. Certain ionic chemicals, like sodium chloride, are quite recognizable to you (NaCl). There are as many positive sodium ions (Na+) as there are negative chloride ions (Cl-) in a sodium chloride crystal.

Ionic bonding in NaCl

Cations and anions are electrostatically opposed. This is what makes them interested in one another. Ionic bonds are formed when the electrostatic attraction between an anion and a cation causes them to come together. Different from other sorts of bonds, this one occurs when two objects with opposite charges are attracted to one another. An ionic compound consists of two or more ions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. Binomial ionic compounds, in which only two atoms are involved (one as the cation and one as the anion), are the simplest ionic compounds.

 Ionic Compound Properties

1. Physical structure: Because of the strong attraction between the positive and negative ions, ionic compounds are solids. They are called delicate because they are susceptible to breaking under regular handling circumstances.

2. Melting and boiling points: Ionic bonds are extremely stable and need much energy to disassemble due to the electrostatic forces of attraction between ions. As a result, the melting and boiling points of ionic compounds are rather high.

3. Solubility: Ionic compounds are polar; thus, they dissolve in polar solvents like inorganic acids, ethyl acetate, water, etc. They are insoluble in organic non-polar solvents such as hexane, toluene, etc., 

4. Conductivity: Ionic compounds are poor conductors in their solid form but excellent when melted. A path must be created for a charge to go from one location to another to conduct electricity. Ionic compounds don't conduct electricity in the solid state because ion mobility is impossible. When ionic compounds are melted, the heat removes the electrical factors of attraction between the ions, allowing electricity to flow through the molten state.

Ionic Character

A molecule's ionic nature is determined by the degree of variation in electronegativity between its component atoms. More significant dissimilarities indicate a more pronounced ionic nature of the molecule.

Estimating ionic character or the magnitude of the charge separation in a polar covalent bond requires measuring the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms. Let there be an ionic compound with the molecular formula AB. let the electronegativities of these atoms be χA and χB. Then the ionic character of compound AB is calculated as:

Ionic Compounds in Everyday Life

Ionic compounds find several applications in our day-to-day lives:

• Several daily goods include ionic compounds, including table salt (NaCl), baking soda (Na2CO3), and baking powder. 

• They are utilized in several industrial operations, including the manufacturing of fertilizers, detergents, and medicines. 

• Involved in several biological processes, ionic substances are very vital in biology. The sodium-potassium pump, for instance, is an ionic molecule that helps regulate the concentration of ions in cells. This procedure is crucial to the normal functioning of cells. 

• Ionic molecules are also essential for mineral formation. Many minerals, such as quartz (SiO2), calcite (CaCO3), and halite (NaCl), are formed of ionic compounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are ionic bonds hard to melt?

While the melting and boiling temperatures are pretty high for ionic connections, they are extremely low for non-polar covalent bonds. Polar covalent bonds must melt, and boiling temperatures intermediate to those of ionic and nonpolar covalent bonds.

2. What is lattice energy?

Lattice energy is necessary to transform one mole of ionic salt into its gaseous components. The higher the lattice energy of a compound, the higher its stability. Usually, as the ionic character increases, lattice energy also increases. Its value is always positive. 

3. What is Fajan’s rule?

A molecule with a low positive charge, a large-sized cation, and a small-sized anion form an ionic bond, while a compound with a high positive charge, small-sized cation, and a large anion forms a covalent bond, as described by Fajans' rule. The polarizing power of small cations increases with their charge.