Melting points and boiling points of ionic compounds are generally ____ than those of covalent compounds.

Ionic compounds generally have higher melting points and boiling points than covalent compounds. This difference is primarily due to the nature of the bonding and the structure of the compounds.

1. Bonding Nature: Ionic bonds are formed through the electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions. This strong attraction requires more energy to break, resulting in higher melting and boiling points. In contrast, covalent compounds are held together by weaker intermolecular forces, such as Van der Waals forces or hydrogen bonds, which require less energy to overcome.

2. Structural Differences: Ionic compounds typically form crystalline lattice structures, which are stable and require a significant amount of energy to break apart. On the other hand, covalent compounds may exist as individual molecules with varying structures, and the bonds between these molecules are generally much weaker.

In summary, the strong ionic bonds and structured lattice arrangement of ionic compounds lead to higher melting and boiling points compared to covalent compounds, where the bonds are weaker and less organized.