Final answer:
Ionic compounds have high melting points, exhibit ionic bonding, are more soluble in water, conduct electricity when dissolved or molten, but do not conduct in their solid form.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of ionic compounds include having high melting points and high boiling points. They exhibit ionic bonding rather than covalent bonding and are usually more soluble in water and have low solubility in nonpolar solvents. Furthermore, ionic compounds are nonflammable and conduct electricity when dissolved in water or in a molten state, because the free movement of ions allows for the flow of electric current. In contrast, they do not conduct electricity in their solid form due to the rigid structure which prevents ion movement.