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

Phylum coelenterata, what is the economic importance of phylum coelenterata...

what is the economic importance of phylum coelenterata

Classify suture with help of examples, Question 1 Classify suture with ...

Question 1 Classify suture with help of examples 2 Give a brief description of following syndromes Felty's syndrome Ekbom syndrome Klippel-Feil syndrome Hepatore

Define caecum - part of large intestine, Define Caecum - Part of Large Inte...

Define Caecum - Part of Large Intestine This is the first part of the colon. Ileocolic valve opens from the ileum on the medial aspect of the caecum. The vermiform appendix is

How has the earth changed since it was formed, How has the earth changed si...

How has the earth changed since it was formed? Ans) The earth has changed particularly since it was formed. Earth was a ball of rock that was strike and changed by loads of imp

Explain brain or detector - mechanism of colour perception, Explain Brain o...

Explain Brain or Detector - Mechanism of Colour Perception The fibre identification of colour takes place in the brain. If any of these four pre-requisites are not present, the

Gears, What is the Effect of the Number of Teeth with regards to Rotation?

What is the Effect of the Number of Teeth with regards to Rotation?

Explain monocytes - types of white blood cells, Explain Monocytes - Types o...

Explain Monocytes - Types of White Blood Cells They are motile and occasionally show phagocytic activity. They form only 5% of leukocytes, capable of providing more phagocytic

Management science, advantages of Vogel''s approximation method

advantages of Vogel''s approximation method

Science fair , what kind of questions do they ask at a science fair

what kind of questions do they ask at a science fair

Help with DNA and SNP, Hello! I have some questions related to biotechnolog...

Hello! I have some questions related to biotechnology; study in DNA and SNPs. Any ideas for a way to cure schizophrenia, using the knowledge of SNPs? And can you tell me, if it is

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