Metals and Non-Metals — Science STD 10 — Question

The ionic compounds are very hard and brittle. In ionic compounds the ions are rigidly held in a lattice because the positive and negative ions are strongly attracted to each other and difficult to separate. But the brittleness of a compound is how easy it is to shift the position of atoms or ions in a lattice. If we apply a pressure on the ionic compounds the layers shifts slightly. the Same charged ions in the lattice comes closer. A repulsive forces arises between same charged ions. due to this repulsions the lattice structure breaks down.