* Ionic compounds are made of cations and anions: An ionic compound consists of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions).
* Alternating ions: To maintain electrical neutrality, these ions alternate in the crystal lattice. So, at a given lattice point, you might find a cation, while at the adjacent lattice point, you'll find an anion.
* Different sizes: Cations are typically smaller than anions. This difference in size can influence how they pack together in the lattice.
Example:
In NaCl (table salt), the lattice points are occupied by:
* Sodium ions (Na+)
* Chloride ions (Cl-)
They alternate to create a stable, repeating structure.
Key takeaway: While ionic solids have a precise, repeating arrangement, the lattice points themselves are occupied by different types of ions, not always a single atom.