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Chapter 5: Problem 48

A simple drop on the floor of an ionic substance may cause it to fracture along a perfectly straight line. Explain why.

Short Answer

Expert verified
In conclusion, the fracture of an ionic substance along a straight line can be attributed to its crystal lattice structure, non-directional ionic bonds, and the brittle nature that causes bond cleavage when subjected to external forces. This occurs as the repulsive forces between ions of the same charge break the ionic bonds along the plane, resulting in a perfectly straight line fracture.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the nature of ionic substances

First, let's understand what an ionic substance is. Ionic substances are composed of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions) that are attracted to each other through electrostatic forces known as ionic bonds. The ions in an ionic substance are arranged in a regular and repeating three-dimensional pattern called a crystal lattice.
02

Ionic bonding in the crystal lattice

In the crystal lattice, each ion is surrounded by ions of the opposite charge, which provides stability to the structure. However, these ionic bonds are non-directional, meaning the attractive forces between the ions are equally distributed in all directions, and not limited to a specific axis or plane.
03

Brittle nature of ionic substances

Now that we understand the nature of ionic substances and the type of bonding that exists within their structures, we can delve into why they may fracture along a straight line. Due to the non-directional nature of ionic bonds, when an external force is applied to the substance (e.g., by dropping it on the floor), the ions can be pushed closer together or further apart along one plane. If the force is strong enough, it will cause adjacent ions of the same charge to come into close contact, causing a repulsion that breaks the ionic bonds along the plane.
04

Fracture along a straight line

This cleavage of ionic bonds leads to the substance breaking apart along a perfectly straight line, which is the result of a planar arrangement of ions in the crystal lattice structure. The ionic substances, due to their anisotropic nature, exhibit equal resistance in all directions, thus leading to a fracture along the plane where the bond-breaking occurs. In conclusion, the fracture of an ionic substance along a straight line can be attributed to its crystal lattice structure, non-directional ionic bonds, and the brittle nature that causes bond cleavage when subjected to external forces.

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