How do the properties of ionic and molecular substances compare?
Ionic substances are usually very soluble in polar substances, with some exceptions, while the solubility of molecular substances tends to vary over a wide range. Ionic substances do not conduct electricity in their solid forms, but they can conduct electricity when dissolved in a solvent. Molecular substances tend not to conduct electricity. Ionic solids are usually hard and brittle, or powdery when not in a solid block. Dissolved ionic substances are… liquids. Molecular solids once again vary greatly. The melting point of ionic substances tends to be very high, while that of molecular substances… varies greatly. An example of two molecular substances that are extremely different could be methanol (CH3OH) and diamond(C). Methanol is very soluble in polar molecules, is a liquid, and has a very low melting point. Diamond, on the other hand, is insoluble in pretty much anything, is does not conduct electricity, is very hard, and has a melting point of 3550C. Diamond is a special type
