Network solid
chemical substance whose atoms are bonded by covalent bonds in a continuous network extending throughout the material
A network solid or covalent network solid (also called atomic crystalline solids or giant covalent structures) is a chemical compound (or element) in which the atoms are bonded by covalent bonds in a continuous network extending throughout the material. In a network solid there are no individual molecules, and the entire crystal or amorphous solid may be considered a macromolecule. Formulas for network solids, like those for ionic compounds, are simple ratios of the component atoms represented by a formula unit.
Examples of network solids include diamond with a continuous network of carbon atoms and silicon dioxide or quartz with a continuous three-dimensional network of SiO2 units. Graphite and the mica group of silicate minerals structurally consist of continuous two-dimensional sheets covalently bonded within the layer, with other bond types holding the layers together. Disordered network solids are termed glasses. These are typically formed on rapid cooling of melts so that little time is left for atomic ordering to occur.
Properties
Hardness: Very hard, due to the strong covalent bonds throughout the lattice (deformation can be easier, however, in directions that do not require the breaking of any covalent bonds, as with flexing or sliding of sheets in graphite or mica).
Melting point: High, since melting means breaking covalent bonds (rather than merely overcoming weaker intermolecular forces).
Solid-phase electrical conductivity: Variable, depending on the nature of the bonding: network solids in which all electrons are used for sigma bonds (e.g.
The public source identifies “Network solid” as chemical substance whose atoms are bonded by covalent bonds in a continuous network extending throughout the material. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Network, solid and chemical.
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The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 13, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q632350. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
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This entry incorporates text from “Network solid” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.