9
QuizMultiple Choice

Pretest

Question 9 • Pretest

Which characteristic(s) makes ionic compounds useful as a building material?

Answer
A
inability to dissolve in water
B
hardness and brittleness
C
inability to conduct electricity
D
low melting and boiling points

Explanation

Ionic compounds are held together by strong electrostatic attractions, which make them hard solids. That hardness can make them useful as building materials, even though their brittleness means they can crack when struck. They generally have high—not low—melting and boiling points, so choice B is incorrect.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.