This exam tips covers Exam Tips for Ionic Compounds within Ionic Compounds for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Ionic Compounds in Bonding & Structure for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 11 of 12 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 11 of 12
Practice
20 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
💡 Exam Tips for Ionic Compounds
🎯 Common Question Types:
- Explain high melting point of an ionic compound (2-3 marks)
- Explain why it conducts when molten but not when solid (2 marks)
- Compare melting points of two ionic compounds (2 marks)
- Explain brittleness in terms of structure (2 marks)
📝 Key Command Words:
- Explain: Reference structure — lattice, electrostatic forces, ions fixed/free
- Compare: State both compounds' properties AND explain the difference
- Predict: Apply the rules (higher charge = higher MP) to an unfamiliar compound
- Describe: Give the arrangement of ions in the lattice
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Saying ionic compounds "have molecules" — they have lattices, no molecules
- Saying it conducts because "it has ions" — must say ions are FREE TO MOVE
- Forgetting that only the lattice structure (not individual bonds) breaks during melting
- Not mentioning "electrostatic" when discussing forces in ionic compounds
- Ignoring ion size when comparing melting points (charge is most important, but size matters too)