Question

select all the correct answers. which two properties are characteristic of ionic compounds?
☐ brittleness
☐ ductility
☐ high melting point
☐ low boiling point
☐ malleability

Explanation:

Ionic compounds have a crystal lattice structure. When stress is applied, the ions of like charge align, causing repulsion and making them brittle (so brittleness is a characteristic). Also, ionic compounds have strong electrostatic forces between ions, requiring a lot of energy to break, leading to high melting points (so high melting point is a characteristic). Ductility and malleability are properties of metals (due to mobile electrons and metallic bonding), and ionic compounds don't have low boiling points (they have high boiling points similar to high melting points due to strong ion - ion interactions).

Answer:

A. brittleness, C. high melting point