https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08180
Liquid that consists exclusively or almost exclusively of equivalent amounts of oppositely charged ions.
Notes:
- In practice, the ions are monocations and monoanions.
- Ionic liquids that are liquid at or around room temperature are called room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs).
- The term ionic liquid has been often restricted to those water-free liquids that have melting points (or glass-transition temperatures) below
, following a definition given by Walden, who prepared the first ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate, , mp. , for conductivity measurements. - The terminology for ionic liquids is not yet settled, as stated by Welton. Room-temperature ionic liquid, non-aqueous ionic liquid, molten salt, liquid organic salt, and fused salt are often synonymous.