Question

Which statement best describes the properties of ionic compounds? They are brittle, solid at room temperature, and have a high melting point. They are always composed of an equal proportion of cations to anions. They mostly have low melting and boiling points. They are good conductors of heat and electricity and are ductile and malleable.

Answer 1

Most properties of ionic compounds are based on the strength of the ionic bonds. Ionic bonds are the strongest bonds between atoms (compared with covalent bonds), so that implies that the ionic compounds will be solid and form crystals at room temperature, will have high melting and boiling points, will be hard, rigid and brittle, will dissolve into ions (cations and anions) in polar solvents, and their solutions will conduct electricity.

Answer 2

They are brittle, solid at room temperature, and have s high melting point