Properties and models of bonding Flashcards
What is the primary characteristic of ionic bonding?
Ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
This type of bonding usually occurs between metals and nonmetals, where metals lose electrons to form cations, and nonmetals gain electrons to form anions. The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions holds the compound together.
What is hybridization in the context of covalent bonding?
Hybridization is the process of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals that are used to form covalent bonds in molecules.
Examples include sp3 hybridization in methane (CH4), where one s and three p orbitals combine to form four equivalent sp3 hybrid orbitals, allowing for a tetrahedral geometry. Other types include sp2 (trigonal planar) and sp (linear) hybridization.
What are the main properties of metallic bonding?
Metallic bonding is characterized by a “sea of electrons” where valence electrons are free to move throughout the structure, leading to properties like electrical conductivity, malleability, and ductility.
In metallic bonds, metal atoms share a pool of delocalized electrons, which allows the electrons to move freely and conduct electricity.
How do bond strength and bond length relate to each other?
Generally, the shorter the bond length, the stronger the bond. Triple bonds are stronger and shorter than double bonds, which in turn are stronger and shorter than single bonds.
Bond strength is influenced by the number of shared electrons, while bond length depends on the sizes of the bonded atoms and the bond order. For example, the bond length of a C=C double bond is shorter than that of a C-C single bond.
Why do ionic compounds typically have high melting and boiling points?
Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because the electrostatic forces between the oppositely charged ions are very strong, requiring significant energy to break.
These strong ionic bonds also contribute to the hardness and brittleness of ionic solids. Ionic compounds tend to dissolve in water, where the ions separate and disperse.
