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

For miscible solid and liquid wastes-chemical wastes, For water soluble/mis...

For water soluble/miscible solid and liquid wastes The familiar method of mopping the waste with plenty of water and running the same into the drainage could be done for miscib

Define the peripheral nervous system, Define the Peripheral Nervous System ...

Define the Peripheral Nervous System The peripheral nervous system or PNS, is a part of the nervous system and consists of the nerves and neurons that reside or extend outside

Social science, discuss the importance of society and culture to existence ...

discuss the importance of society and culture to existence of man .

What is the minimally processed fresh foods, Minimally processed fresh food...

Minimally processed fresh foods Today's consumers are increasingly demanding convenient, ready-to-use and ready-to-eat foods with a fresh like quality, and containing only nat

Disease, Disease: All of us, at one time or another, have suffered from...

Disease: All of us, at one time or another, have suffered from fever, aches. vomiting, nausea. diarrhoea, flu, cold, general weaknessetc. Illness can arise from a number of fac

Placement of first aid box-accidents and first aid, Placement of First Aid ...

Placement of First Aid Box : All first aid equipment should be placed close to the sites where accidents are likely to occur. The location of first aid boxes should be such that t

Science, #qpecifically, they want to find two separate locations: one where...

#qpecifically, they want to find two separate locations: one where shallow, large magnitude earthquakes are frequently found, and one where large steep volcanoes that have explosiv

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