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This one is the last one.. I haven't attempted this one yet.. please post the answer so i can refer to it later when i solve by myself..

CH4 is a typical covalent compound while CsCl is a typical ionic Compound

a. list what properties a typical covalent compound has and explain clearely why being covalent can give it each property

b. List what properties a typical ionic compound has and explain clearely why for each prop.

this was from the below post.. could u explain ur answer bit more clearly.. the assignment was to do only the first 2 chapters.. and i think some of hte answers are way too detailed to actually be in the first two chapters.. juste tell me the basic properties and explanations too plz.. again thx

By Joel_Set (Joel_Set) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 11:04 pm: Edit

bump plz fairy hellllp

By Serene (Serene) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 01:59 am: Edit

errr I think the problem is that s/he doesn't know what's covered in your first 2 chapters.

By Fairyofwind (Fairyofwind) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 12:13 pm: Edit

An ionic compound results when a metal reacts with a nonmetal. This happens because metals tend to favor losing electrons, and nonmetals favor gaining electrons, so in this case, the metal loses all its electrons to the nonmetal, forming a cation (metal) and an anion (nonmetal). Opposites attract, so an ionic bond is formed. A covalent compound results from a nonmetal reacting with a nonmetal. The electronegativity difference is not high enough for an ionic bond to form (i.e. one does not have a high enough affinity for electrons that is pulls all the electrons from the other), so the two share electrons. This is why an ionic compound typically has higher boiling and melting points than a covalent compound--because it is a stronger bond resulting from electrostatic forces. Because ionic compounds have very high boiling and melting points and because of their lattice structure, they are always found in the solid state at room temperature. While the basic unit of a covalent compound is the molecule, in an ionic compound, the ions arrange themselves in a lattice. An ionic compound conducts electricity in its molten state or when dissolved in water, because in that case, the ionic lattice dissociates into free flowing ions.

By Bitz (Bitz) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 01:29 pm: Edit

Close ... but don't say "all its electrons". The metal only loses the electrons in its valence shell (not inner-shell electrons). Otherwise you would have to deal with ions with charges in the double (and sometimes triple) digits quite frequently.

By Joel_Set (Joel_Set) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 07:41 pm: Edit

k thx.. i think i got it right