Ionic crystals

Ionic crystals have the following characteristics:

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

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

iii. Ionic crystals are hard and brittle, and they have high melting points. …