Which do you think has stronger attractions between their structural units: ions or molecules. Why?

 

There is the right answer, then there are stupid answers...

Which do you think has stronger attractions between their structural units: ions or molecules. Why?

 

There is the right answer, then there are stupid answers...

 

Molecules could exhibit Van der Waals forces, dipole-dipole attractions and hydrogen bonding between them.

 

Ions would exhibit electrostatic attraction between them.

Your question is ill-defined. Many ions are molecules and many molecules are ions.

Your question is ill-defined. Many ions are molecules and many molecules are ions.

Maybe they should be called "ionecules" or perhaps "molions."

 

edit: my preference is for "ionecules" just based on the sound of the word.

Edited April 4, 201114 yr by lemur

Crystalline ionic substances can have very large lattice energies (basically ionic bond strength), especially for inorganic compounds of elements on opposite sides of the periodic table. Yet the bonds can be easily "broken", eg by dissolving in water where the water molecules are dipolar and rearrange so as to weaken the effects of the charge. If you're talking biologically relevant molecules, the comparative strength of the ionic bonds is extremely weak compared to the covalent bonds, and are even more easily broken.