Differences Between Ionic and Covalent Compounds Essay Example
Differences Between Ionic and Covalent Compounds
Abstract
In chemistry, a compound is a substance formed from two or more elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. A defining characteristic of a compound is that it has a chemical formula. Formulas describe the ratio of numbers of atoms in a substance. Compounds may have a number of possible phases. For a compound to be a liquid or a gas and still be called a compound, atoms from the various elements must be stuck together in the form of molecules. The formation of molecules is why compounds such as C2H4 exist. The formula is telling you not just the ratios but also how many atoms there are in each molecule (Wikipedia).
Ionic compounds are basically defined as being compounds where two or more ions are held next to each other by electrical attraction. One of the ions has a positive charge called a cation and the other has a negative charge called an anion. Cations are usually metal atoms and anions are either nonmetals or polyatomic ions. Usually, when we have ionic compounds, they form large crystals that you can see with the naked eye (4). A covalent compound is a compound in which the atoms that are bonded share electrons rather than transfer electrons from one to the other. While ionic compounds are usually formed when metals bond to nonmetals, covalent compounds are formed when two nonmetals bond to each other (3).
The solubility of a solute is the maximum quantity of solute that can dissolve in a certain quantity of solvent or quantity of solution at a specified temperature. (Jones)
Electrical conductivity is a measure of how well a material accommodates the transport of electric charge.(4)
Introduction
This experiement deals with solubility and electrical conductivity of ionic or covalent compounds. The purpose of this lab is to identify compounds as either ionic or covalent from the name and the formula, to observe and record the solubility and electrical conductivity or
Abstract
In chemistry, a compound is a substance formed from two or more elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. A defining characteristic of a compound is that it has a chemical formula. Formulas describe the ratio of numbers of atoms in a substance. Compounds may have a number of possible phases. For a compound to be a liquid or a gas and still be called a compound, atoms from the various elements must be stuck together in the form of molecules. The formation of molecules is why compounds such as C2H4 exist. The formula is telling you not just the ratios but also how many atoms there are in each molecule (Wikipedia).
Ionic compounds are basically defined as being compounds where two or more ions are held next to each other by electrical attraction. One of the ions has a positive charge called a cation and the other has a negative charge called an anion. Cations are usually metal atoms and anions are either nonmetals or polyatomic ions. Usually, when we have ionic compounds, they form large crystals that you can see with the naked eye (4). A covalent compound is a compound in which the atoms that are bonded share electrons rather than transfer electrons from one to the other. While ionic compounds are usually formed when metals bond to nonmetals, covalent compounds are formed when two nonmetals bond to each other (3).
The solubility of a solute is the maximum quantity of solute that can dissolve in a certain quantity of solvent or quantity of solution at a specified temperature. (Jones)
Electrical conductivity is a measure of how well a material accommodates the transport of electric charge.(4)
Introduction
This experiement deals with solubility and electrical conductivity of ionic or covalent compounds. The purpose of this lab is to identify compounds as either ionic or covalent from the name and the formula, to observe and record the solubility and electrical conductivity or