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Im not sure but id have a go and say that because ionic compounds are giant lattices bonded by opposite electrostatic charges due to cations and anions, if enough force is given to slightly re align this lattice (say hitting with a hammer) it will shatter due to the rearrangement of ions as the layers slide slightly creating same charges close to each other which repel and shatter the compound. That's why ionic compounds are often hard but shatter .
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Jordan
TaigaIt is not practical to make tools out of ionic compounds because they are typically brittle and break easily under stress. Ionic compounds have strong electrostatic forces holding the ions together in a fixed lattice structure, making them unsuitable for forming flexible or durable tools.
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Does ionic compounds make molecules or ions?
Ionic compounds typically form ions when dissolved in water or melted, as the strong electrostatic forces between the positively and negatively charged ions prevent them from forming discrete molecules. In the solid state, ionic compounds exist as a lattice of alternating cations and anions held together by ionic bonds.
Do metals make up ionic compounds?
They don't entirely make up ionic compounds. Most ionic compounds contain a metal and at least one nonmetal element, with the metal forming the positive ion. However in a few cases an ionic compound may be made up entirely of nonmetals forming polyatomic ions (e.g. ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3).
Are Ionic compounds named using numerical prefixes?
No, Ionic compounds are named using the names of the individual ions that make up the compound. Numerical prefixes are used in naming molecular covalent compounds.
Is a telephone receiver an ionic compound a ionic compound or a covalent compound?
A telephone receiver is not a compound itself, but the materials used to make it can be either ionic or covalent compounds. The components of a telephone receiver, such as plastics and metals, are typically made of covalent compounds.
Does iron and chlorine make ionic compounds?
Yes, iron and chlorine can form ionic compounds. When iron reacts with chlorine, it can lose electrons to form the Fe^3+ ion, while chlorine can gain electrons to form the Cl^- ion. These ions then combine to form the ionic compound iron(III) chloride (FeCl3).
