Properties of ionic substances

Ionic substances have high melting points

Ionic substances have very high melting points

salt being melted on a bunsen burner's flame

Have you ever tried to melt salt? Its melting point is an incredible 801°C!

All ionic compounds have solid crystal structures

All ionic substances exist as solid crystal structures.

image of crystal ionic compounds

Think of salt as being a big crystal structure.

Ionic substances dissolve in water

Ionic substances often dissolve in water.

three glasses of water with salt dissolving in them

Salt dissolves in water.

Ionic compounds conduct electricity in solution

When salt dissolves in water, the sodium and chlorine dissociate from each other and this allows the solution to conduct electricity. (Note: in chemistry, the word is not 'disassociate')

image comparing how electricity passes though bath full of pure water or salty water

Pure water does not conduct electricity, however usually water is able to conduct electricity because of the impurities it contains.

If you add salt to pure water, the water will be able to carry electricity and you will get a shock (and probably die).