Question

Which one of the following properties is generally not applicable to ionic hydrides ?

• A. Non-volatile
• B. Non-conducting in solid state
• C. Crystalline
• D. Volatile

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Ionic hydrides are compounds formed by metals (usually alkali or alkaline earth metals) with hydrogen, where hydrogen exists as the hydride ion (H⁻).

Properties of ionic hydrides include:

• Non-volatile: Ionic compounds typically have high melting points and do not easily vaporize, so they are generally non-volatile.
• Non-conducting in solid state: Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in the solid state because the ions are fixed in a lattice and cannot move freely. They conduct electricity only in the molten or dissolved state.
• Crystalline: Ionic hydrides typically form crystalline structures, as the ions arrange themselves in a regular, repeating pattern.

Volatility is generally not applicable to ionic hydrides because they tend to have high melting points and do not easily evaporate. Thus, option (D) is the correct answer.