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→Ionic Compound: clean up -- there is some confusion over ion vs. atom; additionally, there are non-crystalline ionic solids, and non-ionic crystalline solids
=== Ionic Compound ===
=== Ionic Compound ===
An ''ionic compound'' is any substance that exists only as a [[crystal]] consisting of two or more [[ions]] when not [[solution|dissolved]]. Common salt ([[sodium chloride]]) is a good example of an ionic compound. As a pure solid, salt consists of [[sodium]] ions and [[chlorine|chloride]] ions tightly associated in a crystal lattice. When salt dissolves, these ions dissociate and become merely so much sodium ions and chloride ions swimming in a sea of whatever [[solvent]] is used. No such thing as "a molecule of salt" can ever be said to exist.
An ''ionic compound'' is any substance consisting of two or more [[ionic bond|ionically-bonded]] atoms.
Table salt ([[sodium chloride]]) is a good example of an ionic compound. As a pure solid, salt consists of [[sodium]] and [[chlorine|chloride]] atoms tightly associated in a crystal lattice. When salt dissolves, these atoms [[dissociate]] and become sodium ions and chloride ions, distributed throughout the [[solvent]]. No such thing as "a molecule of salt" can ever be said to exist (since salt is a crystal), however one NaCl unit is referred to as a ''formula unit.''
Ionic compounds typically dissolve only in ''polar'' solvents (see below).
Ionic compounds typically dissolve only in ''polar'' solvents (see below).