The figure listed below shows simply a few examples of the color and also brilliance that naturally occurring ionic crystals. The regular and orderly setup of ions in the decision lattice is responsible because that the assorted shapes of these crystals, while change metal ions give rise come the colors.
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Conductivity
Another characteristic residential property of ionic compounds is their electrical conductivity. The figure listed below shows three experiments in which two electrodes the are linked to a light bulb are inserted in beakers containing three different substances.

In the first beaker, distilled water does no conduct a current due to the fact that water is a molecular compound. In the 2nd beaker, solid sodium chloride likewise does not conduct a current. In spite of being ionic and also thus created of fee particles, the solid decision lattice walk not enable the ion to move between the electrodes. Mobile fee particles are compelled for the circuit to it is in complete and the light pear to light up. In the third beaker, the NaCl has been dissolved into the distilled water. Currently the decision lattice has actually been broken apart and also the individual optimistic and negative ions deserve to move. Cations move to one electrode, when anions move to the other, allowing electricity to circulation (see figure below). Melt an ionic compound additionally frees the ions to command a current. Ionic compounds command an electric current when melted or liquified in water. The dissolution of ionic link in water will be debated in section 9.3.
Solution
NaCl(s) → Na+(aq) + Cl–(aq)