Giant Lattices
Ionic Lattices
- The ions form a lattice structure which is an evenly distributed crystalline structure
- Ions in a lattice are arranged in a regular repeating pattern so that positive charges cancel out negative charges
- The attraction between the cations and anions is occurring in all directions
- Each ion is attracted to all of the oppositely charged ions around it
- Therefore the final lattice is overall electrically neutral
Ionic solids are arranged in lattice structures
Metallic Lattices
- Metals form giant metallic lattices in which the metal ions are surrounded by a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons
- The metal ions are often packed in hexagonal layers or in a cubic arrangement
- This layered structure with the delocalised electrons gives a metal its key properties
Layers of copper ions (the delocalised electrons are not shown in the diagram)
Covalent lattices
- Covalent bonds are bonds between nonmetals in which electrons are shared between the atoms
- Covalent compounds can be arranged in simple molecular or giant molecular lattices
- Simple molecular lattices: iodine, buckminsterfullerene (C60) and ice
- Giant molecular: silicon(IV) oxide, graphite and diamond
Simple molecular lattices
Giant molecular lattices
Examiner Tip
Graphite, diamond and buckminsterfullerene are all allotropes of carbon; they are different structural forms of the same element (which is carbon).