Which property is characteristic of ionic compounds?

Ionic compounds are characterized by their high melting points due to the strong electrostatic forces of attraction between the positively and negatively charged ions that make up their structure. These forces, known as ionic bonds, require a significant amount of energy to overcome. As a result, ionic compounds typically exist as solid crystals at room temperature, and their melting points are considerably higher than those of many covalent compounds.

This high melting point is a distinguishing feature of ionic compounds and reflects the stability of their lattice structure. The arrangement of ions in the crystal lattice maximizes the attractive forces while minimizing repulsion, contributing to their robust stability.

While ionic compounds can conduct electricity when dissolved in water or molten, they are generally poor conductors in their solid state since the ions cannot move freely. Volatility is more associated with covalent compounds, which can evaporate more easily, and ionic compounds usually do not dissolve in organic solvents as they favor polar solvents like water instead. Therefore, the high melting point is the key characteristic that differentiates ionic compounds from other types of chemical compounds.