What Is a Network Solid

A network solid is a substance made up of an array of repeating covalently bonded atoms. Network solids are also known as covalent network solids. Because of the way atoms are arranged, a network solid may be considered a type of macromolecule. Network solids may be either crystals or amorphous solids. Network Solid Examples Diamonds are network solids made of carbon atoms. Quartz is a network solid made of continuous SiO2 subunits. A silicon crystal is another example, consisting of Si atoms. Network Solid Properties The covalent bonding lends network solids characteristic properties: Generally insoluble in any solventVery hardHigh melting pointLow electrical conductivity in the liquid phaseVariable electrical conductivity in the solid phase (depends on bonding) Source Zumdahl, Steven S.; Zumdahl, Susan A. (2000). Chemistry (5 ed.). Houghton Mifflin, pp. 470–6. ISBN 0-618-03591-5.