[CaptainCovalency]

I recently learned about Ionic and Molecular compounds, and I'm confused on the fact that Ionic compounds do not exist as particles, but, quoted from the textbook, "Many Ions held together in a crystal". So how come Ionic compounds do not exist as particles such as an "NaCl particle"? What makes Covalent bonding exist as particles and Ionic bonding exist as crystals? Does this mean when we name Ionic compounds, we are simply naming the minimum amount of each element needed to make the compound electrically neutral?

[Hunter2]

If you have only one NaCl, then its also a particle. Or in gas phase they are particles. In solid condition it forms a crystal because of the ionic behavior.