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Why do ionic crystals often have high melting points?
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crystal
A crystal form of elemental sulfur. Sulfur has an atomic weight of about 32.06 atomic mass units (amu), which means that its molar mass is 32.06 grams.
Ionic crystals often exhibit high melting points due to the strength of the ionic bonds that hold them together. These bonds are formed by the strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ionsācations and anionsāthat are arranged in a stable, alternating lattice structure.12
Because the magnitude of these electrostatic forces is considerable, a significant amount of energy is required to overcome the attraction between the ions to transition the substance from a solid to a liquid state. The specific melting point of an ionic crystal depends on factors such as the charge of the ions and the interionic distance within the crystal lattice.12