3.1.3 - Bonding Flashcards
Define ionic bonding
Electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions formed by electron transfer
Ionic Bonding
Metal atoms ___ electrons to form ___ ions
Metal atoms lose electrons to form +ve ions
Ionic Bonding
Non-metal atoms ____ electrons to form ___ ions
Non-metal atoms gain electrons to form -ve ions
State the formula for a carbonate ion
CO32-
State the formula for an ammonium ion
NH4+
Name the structure of ionic crystals
Giant Ionic Lattice
Name 3 physical properties of ionic compounds
- Conduct electricity only when they’re molten or dissolved
- High melting points
- Tend to dissolve in water
Why can ions conduct electricity when they’re molten or dissolved?
∵ ions in liquid are free to move and carry a charge
Why can’t ions conduct electricity when they’re in a solid?
∵ ions are in fixed position by strong ionic bonds
Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?
- Giant ionic lattices
- Strong electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions
- Takes a lot of energy to overcome these forces
Why do ionic compounds tend to dissolve in water?
- Water molecules are polar
- Part of molecule has a small negative charge and other bits have small positive charges
- Charged parts pull ions away from lattice = causing it dissolve
Ionic bonding is stronger and melting points are higher when ions are… (2x)
smaller and/ or have higher charges
When do molecules form and how are they held together?
- Form when 2 or more atoms bond together
- Held together by strong covalent bonds
What do single covalent bonds contain?
Shared pair of electrons
Describe covalent bonding
- Two atoms share electrons so they’ve both got full outer shells
- Both postive nuclei are attracted electrostatically to shared electrons

Multiple covalent bonds contain…
multiple shared pairs of electrons
Draw methane, represent the covalent bonds by drawing lines

Why can carbon form giant covalent structures?
∵ they can form 4 covalent bonds
Describe the structure of graphite
- Carbon atoms are arranged in sheets of flat hexagons covalently bonded with 3 bonds each
- 4th outer electron of each carbon atom is delocalised
- Sheets of hexagons are boned together by weak van der Waal forces
Name 5 properties of graphite
- Low density
- Dry lubricant/slippy
- Electrical conductor
- Insoluble in any solvent
- Very high melting point
Explain why graphite has a low density
Layers are quite far apart compared to the length of covalent bonds
Explain why graphite is an electrical conductor
‘Delocalised’ electrons aren’t attached to any particular carbon atoms & free to move along sheets carrying a charge
Explain why graphite is a dry lubricant/slippy
Weak bonds between layers in graphite = easily broken ∴ sheets can slide over each other
Explain why graphite has a very high melting point
Covalent bonds are very strong and require lots of energy to break









































