Why are the melting points of ionic compounds higher than covalent compounds? The melting of an ionic compound involves the separation of oppositely charged ions attracted together in solid phase by high electrostatic forces of attraction while the melting of a covalent compound involves separation of neutral molecules attracted together in solid phase by weak intermolecular forces. The melting of a covalent compound involves the separation of oppositely charged ions attracted together in solid phase by high electrostatic forces of attraction while the melting of an ionic compound involves separation of neutral molecules attracted together in solid phase by weak intermolecular forces. The melting of an ionic compound involves the separation of neutral molecules attracted together in solid phase by weak intermolecular forces while the melting of a covalent compound involves separation of oppositely charged ions attracted together in solid phase by high electrostatic forces of attraction The melting of an ionic compound involves the separation of neutral molecules attracted together in solid phase by strong intermolecular forces while the melting of a covalent compound involves separation of oppositely charged ions attracted together in solid phase by weak electrostatic forces of attraction