properties of ionic, metallic, molecular and covalent network crystals

28/7/25

ionic

• particles: ions (cations, anions)

• force/bond: ionic

• properties: hard, brittle, high melting point, liquid and solution conducts electricity

• examples: NaCl, Na₃PO₄, CuSO₄·5H₂O

metallic

• particles: cations

• force/bond: metallic

• properties: soft to very hard, solid and liquid conducts, ductile, malleable, lustrous

• examples: Pb, Fe, Cu, Al

molecular

• particles: molecules (two or more nonmetals)

• force/bond: london dispersion, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonds

• properties: soft, low metling point, solid liquid and solution do not conduct

• examples: Ne, H₂O, HCl, CO₂, CH₄, I₂

covalent network

• strongest type of crystal

• particles: atoms

• force/bond: covalent

• properties: very hard, very high melting point, nonconducting

• examples: C (graphite, diamond), SiC, SiO₂ (quartz, glass)