What is a covalent crystal, Science

Assignment Help:

What is a covalent crystal?

A covalent crystal is one in which the lattice structure is held together by powerful covalent bonds. These crystals tend not to be soluble in water and have a much higher bond strength than ionic crystals. For example, silica, SiO2, does not dissolve in water and has a high melting point. Silica is what glass is made out of. Imagine trying to make a glass out of salt crystals; it would dissolve before you could drink a glass of water out of it! Solubility is a major difference between covalent and ionic crystals.

Diamonds are a great example of how strong the bonds in a covalent crystal can be. The lattice structure of diamonds produces the hardest known substance in the universe.

To complicate things, the vast majority of complex minerals are a combination of ionic and covalent bonds. These crystals will not be discussed in depth in this lesson, but it is important to know that this third category exists, and it is the largest category of minerals and crystals. If you observe the complex formulas of many minerals, like muscovite, which is KAl3Si3O10(OH)2, you will see that it is not so cut and dry what type of bond is holding these atoms together. Is this a covalent or ionic mineral? The answer is: it is both.


Related Discussions:- What is a covalent crystal

Explain saponification, Saponification :- Fats when  boiled with  alcoh...

Saponification :- Fats when  boiled with  alcoholic solution of NaOH or KOH undergo hydrolysis into glycerol  and  fatty acids  and  the  latter  form  soaps with Na or K. The

Food, how foods are digested?

how foods are digested?

Lipid tests., what is the principle of zlatkis test for cholesterol

what is the principle of zlatkis test for cholesterol

The importance of biological factors, QUESTION The school of behaviouri...

QUESTION The school of behaviourism emerged in the 1910s, led by John B. Watson. Unlike psychodynamic theorists, behaviourists study only observable behaviour. Their explanatio

Define the microwave processing, Define  the Microwave Processing Food...

Define  the Microwave Processing Food industry, in the recent years, has witnessed the emergence of microwave oven as a substitute for thermal oven for a number of food process

Mass communication, Mass communication: The well-known exponent of  the...

Mass communication: The well-known exponent of  the role of mass media in development, Dr. Wilbur Schramm, who headed a team of experts  to advise  the development of  infrastr

Duties and responsibilities of fisheries control officers, Question 1: ...

Question 1: (a) Define the following under the Fisheries and Marine Act 2007 (i) Basket trap; (ii) Fish product; (iii) Canard net; (iv) Gear; (v) Fishing. (b) What shou

Levels, what would i need to do to achieve a 7C in science , KS3??

what would i need to do to achieve a 7C in science , KS3??

Waves, Do You Know Where i Might Be Able To Find An Online Science book for...

Do You Know Where i Might Be Able To Find An Online Science book for Chapter 16 In 8th Grade

#titlko, Ask question #Minimum 100 words accept231

Ask question #Minimum 100 words accept231

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd