What type of forces acts between the ions during the formation of a crystal of ionic compound?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: During the formation of a crystal of ionic compound, the type of forces that act between the ions are electrostatic forces or Coulomb forces. These forces are responsible for the arrangement and stability of the ions in the crystal lattice and contribute to the characteristic properties of ionic compounds.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the nature of ionic compounds

Ionic compounds are formed when a metal and a non-metal react together. This process involves the transfer of one or more electrons from the metal atoms to the non-metal atoms, resulting in the formation of positively charged metal ions (cations) and negatively charged non-metal ions (anions). These ions are held together in the crystal lattice by electrostatic forces.
02

Identifying the forces between ions in the crystal lattice

The forces that act between the ions in the crystal lattice are known as electrostatic forces or Coulomb forces. These forces arise from the attraction between oppositely charged ions (cations and anions) and the repulsion between like-charged ions. The strength of these forces is governed by Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two charged particles is proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them (F = k * q1 * q2 / r^2), where F is the electrostatic force, k is the electrostatic constant, q1 and q2 are the charges of the ions, and r is the distance between them.
03

Conclusion

During the formation of a crystal of ionic compound, the type of forces that act between the ions are electrostatic forces or Coulomb forces. These forces govern the arrangement and stability of the ions in the crystal lattice and are responsible for the characteristic properties of ionic compounds such as high melting and boiling points, electrical conductivity in the molten state, and the formation of crystal structures.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free