Hardness And Brittleness Of Ionic Crystals
Which of the following best explains why ionic crystals, such as calcium chloride, are very hard and brittle?
A
The molecules are held together by dipole-dipole forces.
B
The atoms are covalently bonded to adjacent atoms.
C
Strong ionic bonds exist between the ions in the crystal lattice.
D
Ionic crystals are generally neither hard nor brittle.