A property of ionic compounds is that they are
A)soft.
B)hard.
C)brittle.
D)both B and C
E)A,B,and C are correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ionic compounds are characterized by strong ionic bonds between oppositely charged ions. This gives them a rigid crystal lattice structure, making them hard. However, if a force is applied to an ionic compound in a certain direction, the closely packed ions may shift in relation to each other, causing the crystal to break along a plane. This leads to the brittle nature of ionic compounds. Thus, both option B (hard) and option C (brittle) are correct. Option A (soft) is not correct as ionic compounds tend to be harder than covalent compounds. Option E is not correct because option A is not true.

A Property of Ionic Compounds Is That They Are