Question

Can ionic compound evaporate and in what condition ?
Give some examples

Answer 1

Answer :- Ionic compounds consist of 3D array of positive and negative ions , held by strong electrostatic attractive forces. Vaporization of an ionic compound may happen, but to vaporize an ionic compound , we need superlative amount of heat energy. Sometimes or even most of the times , conversion of ionic compound into vapour state requires such a high temperature which is impossible to achieve. For MgO vaporizes at 3600° C and NaCl at 1483 °C.

Even after vaporization , ionic compound retains some of its compound orienting properities, and may exists in monomer or dimer forms. For e.g.:- NaCl in gas form, exists in monomer (NaCl) form (around 73%) and 27% in dimer form. In dimer form, four atoms (two of Na and two of Cl) are arranged in wobbly square. Na₂ and Cl₂ forms also exists.