3 Bonding and structure

Core
1 For each of the following statements about ionic/covalent bonding and ionic/covalent
compounds, write either ’T’ for ‘true’ or ‘F’ for ‘false’.

a Ionic bonds are formed between non-metals only. .......

b Ionic bonds are formed by transfer of electrons between the elements forming the bond. .......

c Ionic compounds usually have low melting points and high boiling points. .......

d Covalent bonds are formed between non-metals only. .......

e Covalent bonds are formed by sharing of electrons between the elements forming the bond. .......

f Covalent compounds usually have low melting and boiling points. .......

2 Figure 3.1 shows two different forms of carbon, A and B.

A B

Figure 3.1

a Name the two forms of carbon shown.

.............................................................................................................................................................................

b i What type of bonding is present in these forms of carbon?

.......................................................................................................................................................................

ii What type of structure is represented by these forms of carbon?

.......................................................................................................................................................................

c i How many other carbon atoms are linked to each carbon atom in form A? .....................................

ii How many other carbon atoms are linked to each carbon atom in form B? .....................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

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 3 Bonding and structure

d Give a use of each of the two forms of carbon.

e Complete Table 3.1, which relates to the properties of the metal copper and the two
forms of carbon, A and B.

Table 3.1

Substance Electrical conductivity Melting point Hardness

Copper Good High High
A
B

3 a Complete the following paragraph about bonding using the words or phrases below. These words
may be used more than once.

transferred cations structure ionic electrostatic force metal

anions force non-metals oppositely metals non-metal

Ionic bonds are usually found in compounds that contain ................................................... combined with

................................................... . When this type of bond is formed, electrons are .............................................

from the ................................................... atoms to the ................................................... atoms during

the chemical reaction. In doing this positive ................................................... ions and

negative ................................................... ions are formed. The positive ions are known as

................................................... . The negative ions are known as ................................................... . When

................................................... charged ions form a crystal ................................................... they have a

strong attractive ................................................... between them called an ................................................... of

attraction. This is known as the ................................................... bond.

b Draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show the bonding in each of the following ionic compounds.

i lithium chloride (LiCl)

ii calcium sulfide (CaS)

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 3 Bonding and structure

4 Draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show the bonding in each of the following covalent compounds.

a hydrogen fluoride (HF)

b nitrogen trichloride (NCl 3)

Supplement
5 Table 3.2 shows the oxidation states of some common ions. Use the information in the table to
work out the formula of each of the compounds listed below it.

Table 3.2

Oxidation number (valency)

1 2 3
Metals Sodium (Na+) Magnesium (Mg2+) Aluminium (Al 3+)
Potassium (K+) Lead (Pb2+) Iron (Fe3+)
Silver (Ag+) Barium (Ba2+)
Copper (Cu2+)
Non-metals Fluoride (F–) Oxide (O2–)
Chloride (Cl–) Sulfide (S2–)
Bromide (Br–)
Groups of atoms Hydroxide (OH–) Carbonate (CO 32–) Phosphate (PO 4 3–)
Nitrate (NO3 –) Sulfate (SO 42–)
Ammonium (NH4+)

a copper(II) fluoride ......................................... e magnesium phosphate ..................................

b sodium carbonate ........................................... f aluminium hydroxide .....................................

c silver phosphate .............................................. g iron(III) bromide ...........................................

d ammonium sulfate ..........................................

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 3 Bonding and structure

6 The bonding in metals can be described in the following way:

‘It is an electrostatic force of attraction between the sea of (or free) electrons and the regular
array of positive metal ions in a lattice within the solid metal. The bonding in metals gives rise to
certain properties.’

Complete the following passage about the properties of metals by writing in words from
the list.

energy levels ductile energy attractive delocalised

high malleable ions conductors negative

Metals are good ................................................... of electricity and heat, because the free electrons from

the outer ................................................... of metal atoms carry a ................................................... charge or

heat ................................................... through the metal. The free electrons are often described as

................................................... . The free electrons allow metal ................................................... to slide over

each other, so metals are ................................................... and ................................................... . They have

................................................... melting and boiling points due to the strong ...................................................

forces within the structure of the metal.

Exam-style questions
Core
1 One of our most important fuels is natural gas (methane, CH4). Figure 3.2 shows the bonding in
a methane molecule.

H X C H
X
X
H

Figure 3.2

a What type of bonding is shown in the methane molecule? .............................................................. [1]

b What type of particle is represented by the dots and crosses? ..................................................... [1]

c Why are four hydrogen atoms needed for each carbon atom in the methane molecule? [2]

.............................................................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................................................

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 3 Bonding and structure

d i What noble gas electron configuration do the hydrogen atoms have?  [1]

........................................................................................................................................................................................

ii What noble gas electron configuration does the carbon atom have?  [1]

........................................................................................................................................................................................

iii When atoms within a molecule form chemical bonds, they normally end up with eight
electrons in their outer shell. Why do the hydrogen atoms have only two? [1]

........................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................................................

[Total: 7]

Supplement
2 Figure 3.3 shows the structure of sodium chloride (salt).

sodium ion
chloride ion

Figure 3.3
a How does the electron configuration of a sodium atom differ from that of a sodium ion? [2]

.............................................................................................................................................................................................
b How does the electron configuration of a chlorine atom differ from that of a chloride ion? [2]

.............................................................................................................................................................................................

c What type of chemical bond is found in sodium chloride? .......................................................[1]

d Using the diagram of sodium chloride in Figure 3.3, explain why sodium chloride:
i forms crystals that are cubic in shape. [2]

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................
ii has a high melting point (801°C). [2]

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................
iii acts as an insulator when solid, but will conduct electricity when molten. [2]

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................
[Total: 11]

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