Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

8.7: Ionic Crystal Structure

  • Page ID
    53735
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    A ruby crystal is an ionic compound
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) (Credit: Adrian Pingstone (Wikimeda: Arpingstone); Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ruby_cristal.jpg(opens in new window); License: Public Domain)

    Why are crystals appealing?

    Crystals are found everywhere that chemical deposits are located. Ruby crystals are extremely valuable, both because of ruby's beauty and its utility in equipment such as lasers. Some claim that crystals have magical qualities. For others, the "magic" is in the regular structure of the crystal, as the cations and anions line up in a regular order.

    Ionic Crystal Structure

    Electron dot diagrams show the nature of the electron transfer that takes place between metal and nonmetal atoms. However, ionic compounds do not exist as discrete molecules, as the dot diagrams may suggest. In order to minimize the potential energy of the system, ionic compounds take on the form of an extended three-dimensional array of alternating cations and anions. This maximizes the attractive forces between the oppositely charged ions. The figure below shows two different ways of representing the ionic crystal lattice. A ball and stick model makes it easier to see how individual ions are oriented with respect to one another. A space filling diagram is a more accurate representation of how the ions pack together in the crystal.

    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Two models of a sodium chloride crystal are shown. The purple spheres represent the \(\ce{Na^+}\) ions, while the green spheres represent the \(\ce{Cl^-}\) ions. (A) In an expanded view, the distances between ions are exaggerated, more easily showing the coordination numbers of each ion. (B) In a space filling model, the electron clouds of the ions are in contact with each other. (Credit: (A) Eloy; (B) Ben Mills (Wikimedia: Benjah-bmm27); Source: (A) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NaCl-estructura_cristalina.svg(opens in new window); (B) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sodium-chloride-3D-ionic.png(opens in new window); License: Public Domain)

    Naturally occurring sodium chloride (halite) does not look at first glance like the neat diagrams shown above. It is only when we use modern techniques to analyze the crystal structure at the atomic level that we can see the true regularity of the organized ions.

    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Halite crystals. (Credit: Ingo Wölbern (Wikimedia: Iwoelbern); Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halit_crystal,_Pedra_Lume,_Cape_Verde.jpg(opens in new window); License: Public Domain)

    Summary

    • Ionic compounds take on the form of extended three-dimensional arrays of cations and anions.
    • The arrangement maximizes the attractive force between oppositely-charged ions.

    Review

    1. Why do ionic compounds form crystal structure instead of discrete molecules?
    2. Ions arrange themselves in three-dimensional array to maximize what type of force
    3. Which of the following would best describe how ions in an ionic compound arrange themselves?
      1. randomly
      2. an orderly pattern

    This page titled 8.7: Ionic Crystal Structure is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by CK-12 Foundation via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

    CK-12 Foundation
    LICENSED UNDER
    CK-12 Foundation is licensed under CK-12 Curriculum Materials License