Physical properties are those that can be determined without changing the chemical

composition of the substances

Chemical properties are those that relate to the ability of a substance to form new
substances
Chemical properties include changes that occur when a substance breaks down or
reacts with other substance during a chemical reaction
Compounds have quite different properties from those of the elements that combined to
form them
The law of constant composition states that all pure sample of the same compound
contain the same elements combined together in the same proportions by mass
Substances are classified into four classes on the basis of their structure and bonding :
covalent molecular, covalent network, ionic compounds, metals
Some of the properties of these four groups of substances are shown below

Class

Property

Melting point

Solid

Molten

High

High

Metalic

Variable hardness

Ionic

Very hard, very brittle High

None

High

Covalent
molecular

Soft brittle solids; can Low

be solids, liquids or
gases at room
temperature

None

None

Covalent
network

Very hard, brittle

None

None

High

Conductivity

Very high

Covalent molecular substances include most non-metal elements and compounds

consisting of non-metals only
Within molecules, atoms are held together by the electrostatic attraction between shared
electrons and the nuclei of adjacent atoms. This form of bonding is called covalent
bonding
There are weak attractive forces between covalent molecules
The properties of covalent molecular substances are listed and explained below

Property

Explanation

Low melting and boiling points

Forces between molecules are weak

Non-conductors of electricity when solid or

liquid

The molecules are uncharged and electrons

are localised in covalent bonds or on the
atoms

The solids are generally soft

Forces between molecules are weak

Covalent network substances include non-metals elements such as carbon and silicon,
and some compounds such as silicone carbide and silicon dioxide
In covalent network substances, every atom is covalently bonded to other atoms,
forming a giant network. No separate molecules can be distinguished
The properties of covalent network substances are listed and explained below

Property

Explanation

Very high melting and boiling points

Strong covalent bonding extending

throughout the lattice

Non-conductors of electricity the solid or

liquid state

Electrons localised in covalent bonds or on

the atoms

Hard and brittle

Atoms strongly bound, distortion breaks

covalent bonds

Chemically inert

The bonding extends throughout the crystal

and the non-polar nature of the bond makes
them resistant to chemical attack

Insoluble in water and most other solvent

The strong covalent binding extending

throughout the crystal lattice accounts for the
insolubility of these substances

Ionic substances consist of positive ions and negative ions arranged in a regular lattice
Ionic bonding is an electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions