Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because a substantial amount of energy is required to break the strong inter-ionic attractions present in their crystal lattice structure.
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The high melting and boiling points of ionic compounds are primarily attributed to the strong electrostatic forces of attraction between positively and negatively charged ions. In ionic compounds, such as salts, ions are held together by ionic bonds, formed through the transfer of electrons from one element to another. These bonds create a three-dimensional lattice structure, and breaking them requires a significant amount of energy. As a result, ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because substantial heat is needed to overcome the strong electrostatic forces and break the bonds, transitioning the compound from a solid to a liquid or gas state.