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 sinus tachycardia - electrocardiogram, Explain Sinus Tachycardia - ...

Explain Sinus Tachycardia - Electrocardiogram When the only abnormality is that the heart rate at rest is more than 100 per minute, the condition is known as sinus tachycardia.

Drinking straw hydrometer, Drinking straw hydrometer Procure a drinking...

Drinking straw hydrometer Procure a drinking straw or a stout natural straw about 20 cm long. If it is not 'water-proof' dip it in melted candle wax and permit it to dry. Seal

Dietary requirement during fever and infection, Dietary Requirement during ...

Dietary Requirement during Fever and Infection: During fever, there is a break down of tissue proteins, and water and salts are  lost. The BMR increases with the rise of ever

Keep volume of water in body constant - function of kidney, Keep volume of ...

Keep volume of water in body constant - Function of Kidney Keep the volume of water in the body constant by removing excess fluid from the body. The kidneys regulate the volume

Polysomnography , Polysomnography is a health care field with strong techni...

Polysomnography is a health care field with strong technical applications. To be effective, sleep technicians must have a strong health care background and be able to identify tech

Clouds formed at the highest altitude, Which are clouds formed at the highe...

Which are clouds formed at the highest altitude: cirrocumulus

Chemistry in golden era, Chemistry in golden era: Chemistry In the fiel...

Chemistry in golden era: Chemistry In the field  of metallurgy  too  we notice some remarkable developmenk. Before the close of the sixteenth century, zinc was isolated by a pr

Science, why do we study science?

why do we study science?

Explain the vasomotor center - feature of medulla, Explain the Vasomotor ce...

Explain the Vasomotor center - Feature of Medulla The vasomotor center is found in medulla. It controls diameter of the blood vessels especially the ones which have smooth musc

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