Difference between Ionic and Covalent crystals

In this article, you will learn the difference between ionic and covalent crystals.

What are Ionic crystals?

i. The constituent particles of ionic crystals are charged ions. The cations and anions may differ in size.

ii. Each ion of a given sign of charge is bonded to ions of opposite charge around it by Coulomb force. In other words, the particles of ionic crystals are held by the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions.

iii. Ionic crystals are hard and brittle. They have high melting points.

iv. These are nonconductors of electricity in solid-state. However, they are good conductors when melted or dissolved in water.

What are covalent crystals?

i. The constituent particles in covalent network solids are atoms.

ii. The atoms in these crystals are linked by a continuous system of covalent bonds. The result is a rigid three-dimensional network that forms a giant molecule. The entire crystal is a single molecule.

iii. As a result of the rigid and strongly bonded structure, covalent network crystals are very hard. In fact, they are the hardest and most incompressible of all the materials. These crystals have high melting and boiling points.

iv. The electrons are localized in covalent bonds and hence are not mobile. As a result, covalent solids are poor conductors of heat and electricity. 

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