Madelung constant

The Madelung constant is a numerical value that measures the strength of electrostatic interactions between ions in an ionic crystal, like salt (sodium chloride). It accounts for how positive and negative ions are arranged in the crystal lattice and influences the overall stability of the structure. Essentially, it sums up the electric forces between a given ion and all other ions in the crystal, considering their distances and arrangements. This constant helps physicists and chemists understand and predict the energy and properties of ionic compounds based on their specific atomic arrangements.