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

Scientific Method, Are these people a worker in a farm? Which is the Indepe...

Are these people a worker in a farm? Which is the Independent and Dependent variable and Control group.

Earth, what is earth made of ?

what is earth made of ?

What is the significance of soil colour, What is the significance of soil c...

What is the significance of soil colour Soil colour is significant in soil classification, i.e. the characterisation of soil,  interpreting soil properties and understanding so

Osmosis, What is osmosis? What are Isotonic, Hyperonic and Hypotonic Slout...

What is osmosis? What are Isotonic, Hyperonic and Hypotonic Sloutions? What are the pracautions for the experiment of osmosis?

Report, I need to write a report of 3pages

I need to write a report of 3pages

Brain, Brain: The centre piece of  the nervous system is the brain wh...

Brain: The centre piece of  the nervous system is the brain which  IS possibly the most organised form of matter known. It  is unlike any other organ of  the body, as ~t alon

Human body, which two body systems control movement of digestive organs?

which two body systems control movement of digestive organs?

Medical terminology, identify ten diagnostic medical terms that use suffixe...

identify ten diagnostic medical terms that use suffixes note note suffixes and provide definitions

What minerals attract lightning, What minerals attract lightning? Ans) ...

What minerals attract lightning? Ans)  Big structures and things that are metal attract lightning, also trees do. In fact, anything that is metallic having mineral may seem

Planets., What are all the planets in our solar system?

What are all the planets in our solar system?

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