Edexcel Topic 2A/B Ionic and Metallic Bonding and Structure interactive chemistry course cover with metallic bonding and ionic lattice diagrams.

Ionic & Metallic – Bonding & Structure – Topic 2A/B

£9.70

Associated Courses

Taught in full. 288 minutes of video.

  1. A sodium atom passing its outer electron to a smaller chlorine atom
    Ionic Bonding150 min
  2. A lattice of positive metal ions with delocalised electrons between them
    Metallic Bonding66 min
  3. A block of the sodium chloride lattice, sodium and chloride ions alternating along every edge
    Solid Lattices72 min
A laptop playing a lesson
  1. Watch
  2. Pause and try the exam question
  3. Check the worked answer

Watch a minute of the lessons.

Short clips cut from the course itself.

  1. Sodium chloride against magnesium oxide

  2. Inside a block of lithium

  3. Why metals conduct

  4. Graphite's fourth electron

  • 13hoursguided learning
  • 288minof video lessons
  • 92MCQ marks
  • 150SAQ marks
Full details of the lessons and hours

Ionic and Metallic Bonding and Structure Topic 2A/2B

The Topic 2A/2B course on Edexcel A Level Chemistry provides approximately 13 hours of guided learning. Students work through three recorded video lessons, 92 marks of auto-marked MCQ practice, 150 marks of teacher-marked written questions, and a personalised spec-point progress report.

Guided Learning
13 Hours
total study time
Video Lessons
288 mins
3 recorded lessons
MCQ Assessments
92 Marks
5 quizzes
SAQ Assessments
150 Marks
5 quizzes

How the 13 guided learning hours are worked out

Guided learning hours are calculated from the actual contents of the course, not estimated.

Video time is counted at its true running length, MCQs at 1.5 minutes per question, written answers at 1.5 minutes per mark, and time is allowed for reading the feedback returned on every quiz.

ComponentTime
Virtual lesson video288 min
MCQ practice (92 questions × 1.5 min)138 min
MCQ feedback review (5 quizzes × 10 min)50 min
SAQ practice (150 marks × 1.5 min)225 min
SAQ feedback review (5 quizzes × 15 min)75 min
Total776 min ≈ 13 hours

The three recorded lessons

The virtual lesson is delivered as three recorded lessons totalling 288 minutes. Students pause during exam-practice sections, attempt questions independently, then review the worked explanations and the mark-scheme approach.

LessonRunning time
1. Ionic Bonding150 min
2. Metallic Bonding66 min
3. Solid Lattices72 min
Total video288 min
At a glance

What you get in this course

288 minutes of guided video

Three recorded lessons covering Topic 2A and Topic 2A/2B in full, with worked exam questions and mark-scheme strategy built into the teaching.

92 marks of MCQ practice

5 auto-marked quizzes of 15–20 questions each, with diagnostic feedback on every option. One attempt per quiz, so your scores track real progress.

150 marks of written practice

5 written-answer quizzes (64 questions) marked by a specialist chemistry teacher, assisted by KASP, with per-mark feedback returned the following Monday.

Spec-point coverage

22 Edexcel A level spec points are assessed in this course, every one of them in both question styles.

Exam-technique baked in

The lessons teach the chemistry and the exam wording. You learn what Edexcel actually rewards, not just the content.

Personalised progress report

A one-click PDF report shows your level on every spec point in colour-coded form.

See exactly where your marks are lost.

An example KASP report: six of this course's spec points, each with a coloured score bar
One-click progress report
  • Secure 70%+
  • Developing 40–69%
  • Weak below 40%
  • Not yet assessed
  • Every question tagged to a spec point
  • Updates after every quiz
  • 22 of 69 spec points covered

Your report, spec point by spec point.

An example of the colour-coded report for this topic.

A Level Chemistry progress report for Ionic and Metallic Bonding and Structure showing student performance across specification points with colour coded levels for understanding
Full details of KASP Analytics

What is KASP Analytics?

KASP (Knowledge Analytics & Spec-point Platform) tracks your progress at the level of individual specification points, not just whole quizzes.

Every question on this course is mapped to the Edexcel A level spec point it assesses, so you always know exactly which parts of the specification you have mastered and which need another look.

Spec points tracked
22
Specification area
Topic 2A/2B: Bonding and Structure
Questions tagged
156
22 spec points assessed in this course

Shared with the Covalent Bonding course (27 more points). Intermolecular forces (2A.16–2A.21) have their own course; 2B.24 and 2B.26-a are not yet assessed.

Across the 92 MCQ and 64 SAQ questions here, most of those spec points are assessed several times over, in both question styles.

Your topic dashboard

Every topic you have worked through is summarised here. At a glance you see how many questions you have attempted, what is still waiting to be marked, your total marks scored, and an overall score percentage.

The dashboard below is an example, filled with the real topic structure of this course.

Hello, Sara – here is how you are doing

Edexcel A level Chemistry
TopicQuestions attemptedPendingMarks (scored / available)Score
Topic 2A: Ionic Bonding24 / 30438.00 / 54.0070%
Topic 2A/2B: Metallic Bonding15 / 20321.00 / 36.0058%

Spec-point breakdown for a topic

Click into any topic and you see the full spec-point breakdown. Each row is a single Edexcel A level spec point with its official wording, how many questions the bank holds against it, your score, and a colour that tells you immediately where to focus.

The spec points and question counts below are the real ones from this course; the scores are an example.

Spec tagDescriptionAttemptedIn bankMarksScore
2A.4-abe able to draw electronic configuration diagrams of cations using dot-and-cross diagrams3 / 376.00 / 6.00100.0%
2A.4-bbe able to draw electronic configuration diagrams of anions using dot-and-cross diagrams4 / 467.00 / 9.0077.8%
2A.5-bunderstand reasons for trends in ionic radii for a set of isoelectronic ions such as N3- to Al3+3 / 3195.00 / 6.0083.3%
2A.6-aunderstand that physical properties of ionic compounds provide evidence for the existence of ions4 / 4116.00 / 9.0066.7%
2A.6-bunderstand that migration of ions provides evidence for the existence of ions4 / 4105.00 / 9.0055.6%
2A.22know that metallic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between metal ions and the delocalised electrons3 / 4184.00 / 8.0050.0%
2B.27ibe able to predict the physical properties of a substance, including melting and boiling temperature, electrical conductivity and solubility in water, in terms of: the types of particle present (atoms, molecules, ions, electrons)2 / 382.00 / 7.0028.6%
2B.27iiibe able to predict the physical properties of a substance, including melting and boiling temperature, electrical conductivity and solubility in water, in terms of: the type of bonding and the presence of intermolecular forces, where relevant0 / 311–Not yet attempted
■ Green 70–100%: secure mastery■ Orange 40–69%: some gaps■ Red 0–39%: needs attention■ Grey: not yet assessed

Printable progress report

One click and you can download a clean, branded Progress Report PDF for the topic. Useful for your own revision folder, for parents to see at a glance, or for tutors to plan focused sessions.

Every spec point in the topic appears with its code and full requirement text, and the level column is colour-coded green through red.

A Level Chemistry progress report for Ionic and Metallic Bonding and Structure showing student performance across specification points with colour coded levels for understanding
At a glance

What you get with KASP Analytics

Spec-point level tracking

Every question is tagged to the exact Edexcel A level spec point it assesses, so your scores roll up cleanly to the specification.

Updates automatically

Submit a quiz and your dashboard updates right away. Short-answer questions appear as pending until they have been marked.

Built for Edexcel A level

Wording, codes and topic structure follow the Edexcel A Level Chemistry specification exactly, so your scores line up with the document you will be examined on.

Printable report

One-click PDF Progress Report per topic, in the same colour system, ready for your folder or for a tutor session.

Both question styles counted

MCQ and written answers feed the same spec point. With 92 MCQ and 64 SAQ questions tagged, a weak area shows up whether you miss it under multiple choice or in writing.

Progress over time

A simple line chart shows how your overall score has trended across the days you have been studying.

92 exam questions. Feedback on every option.

A multiple-choice question asking which compound has the highest melting temperature, beside four ions of a lattice, with the wrong option B showing why it is wrong and the right option D ticked
Feeds your KASP report
  • 5quizzes
  • 15–20questions each
  • 1attempt per quiz

A real question. Marked, as you see it.

Question 13 of MCQ (A), answered: why the wrong answer is wrong, and the right one ticked.

Question 13Wrong · 0/1

An aluminium atom has the electronic configuration 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p¹.

When solid aluminium forms a metallic lattice, the electrons that become delocalised are

  • A

    the three outer-shell electrons from each atom

    Correct answer
  • B

    all thirteen electrons from each atom

  • C

    the two electrons in the innermost shell of each atom

  • D

    one electron from each atom, whatever the metal

    Your answer

About your answer

Incorrect. The number delocalised is the number of outer-shell electrons, which varies with the group: one for sodium, two for magnesium, three for aluminium. It is not fixed at one.

The correct answer is: the three outer-shell electrons from each atom

Explanation

In a metallic lattice each atom releases its outer-shell electrons into a shared sea, leaving a positive ion behind.

  • Aluminium’s outer shell is 3s² 3p¹, so three electrons per atom are delocalised and the ion left behind is Al³⁺.

  • All thirteen electrons is wrong – the 1s, 2s and 2p electrons are held tightly by the nucleus and stay with the ion.

  • The innermost two is wrong for the same reason, and more strongly: 1s electrons are the most tightly bound in the atom.

  • One electron whatever the metal is wrong – sodium releases one, magnesium two, aluminium three. The count follows the group number.

Therefore the correct answer is the three outer-shell electrons from each atom.

MCQ (A) is free: take it on the website, marked straight away.

Full details of the MCQ Bank

What is the MCQ Bank?

The MCQ Bank for Topic 2A/2B is an auto-marked, instant-feedback practice engine of original questions written at real Edexcel A level exam difficulty. It runs to 5 quizzes, 92 questions and 92 marks.

Every question is tagged to a specific Edexcel A level spec point, every option carries diagnostic feedback explaining the chemistry, and every quiz attempt feeds directly into your KASP Analytics dashboard.

Quizzes
5
Questions
92
Marks
92
Attempts
1 per quiz

Try a Topic 2A/2B MCQ from the bank

This is an original question from the bank, shown exactly as it appears in the course. Click any option to reveal the diagnostic feedback for that choice, then expand the panel at the bottom for the full walkthrough.

Why lithium melts at a higher temperature than potassium

2A.22 (Edexcel A level)1 mark

The melting temperature of lithium is greater than that of potassium. What is the best explanation for this statement?

Click an option to see feedback

Alithium ions are smaller than potassium ions
Correct

Correct. Smaller lithium ions have a greater charge density, so the attraction between the positive ions and the delocalised electrons is stronger. This gives lithium stronger metallic bonding and therefore a higher melting temperature than potassium.

Blithium atoms have fewer outer shell electrons than potassium atoms
Incorrect

Incorrect. Both lithium and potassium are in Group 1 and each atom contributes exactly one delocalised electron to the metallic lattice. The number of outer shell electrons does not explain the difference in melting temperature.

Clithium ions have a smaller charge density than potassium ions
Incorrect

Incorrect. This statement is the wrong way round. Lithium ions are much smaller than potassium ions, so they have a larger charge density, not a smaller one. The larger charge density is what makes lithium’s metallic bonding stronger.

Dlithium atoms have a higher electronegativity than potassium atoms
Incorrect

Incorrect. Electronegativity measures an atom’s ability to attract electrons in a covalent bond. It does not determine the strength of metallic bonding or influence the melting temperature of a metal.

Show correct answer & full explanation →
General feedback

The melting temperature of a metal depends on the strength of its metallic bonding. Stronger metallic bonding requires more energy to overcome and gives a higher melting temperature.

  • Lithium ions are smaller than potassium ions is correct. Smaller ions have a greater charge density, so the positive charge is concentrated over a smaller volume. This produces a stronger attraction between the metal ions and the delocalised electrons, giving stronger metallic bonding and a higher melting temperature.
  • Fewer outer shell electrons is incorrect. Both Li and K are in Group 1 and contribute exactly one delocalised electron per atom, so the number of outer electrons cannot distinguish them.
  • Smaller charge density is incorrect. Lithium ions actually have a larger charge density than potassium ions because they are smaller, and it is this greater charge density that explains the stronger metallic bonding in lithium.
  • Higher electronegativity is incorrect. Electronegativity describes the ability of an atom to attract bonding electrons in a covalent bond. It does not determine the strength of metallic bonding.

The correct answer is therefore that lithium ions are smaller than potassium ions, giving them a higher charge density and stronger metallic bonding.

5 quizzes, 92 marks of MCQ practice

The MCQ Bank is split across the two halves of the topic. Quizzes hold 15–20 questions worth one mark each, and each quiz is a single auto-marked attempt.

Because every spec point is tested across several quizzes, your KASP scores reveal real improvement as you work through them.

Topic 2A: Ionic Bonding

4 quizzes · 77 marks
MCQ A
20
questions & marks
MCQ B
19
questions & marks
MCQ C
19
questions & marks
MCQ D
19
questions & marks

Topic 2A/2B: Metallic Bonding

1 quizzes · 15 marks
MCQ A
15
questions & marks
92 total marks92 questions in totalOne attempt per quizAuto-marked on submit
At a glance

What you get with the MCQ Bank

92 marks across 5 quizzes

4 quizzes on Topic 2A and 1 on Topic 2A/2B, 15–20 questions each, giving balanced coverage across the whole topic.

Instant auto-marking

Submit and the result is back in your hands inside a second. No waiting, no manual checking.

Diagnostic feedback per option

Every wrong option carries a tailored explanation of the misconception, not just a generic ‘incorrect’, plus a full walkthrough on every question.

Spec-point tagged

Each question is mapped to the Edexcel A level spec point it assesses, so your score flows straight into KASP Analytics.

Track improvement across quizzes

One attempt per quiz, but the same spec points appear across the set. Your scores from quiz to quiz show real progress, not repeat-attempt inflation.

Original questions

Every MCQ is an original question written at real exam difficulty, with the chemistry checked.

Marked by a teacher. Assisted by KASP.

KASP drafts the marks
A student's handwritten dot-and-cross diagrams on a tablet: [Na]⁺ with no outer electrons boxed green, [Cl]⁻ with eight outer electrons in four pairs boxed green, and the one cross from sodium boxed in orange
Teacher decides every mark
  1. MonSubmit
  2. TueSubmit
  3. WedSubmit
  4. ThuSubmit
  5. FriSubmit
  6. Sat–SunTeacher + KASP mark
  7. MonFeedback back

Every SAQ is marked by a specialist chemistry teacher, assisted by KASP. One SAQ quiz is marked each week.

What you get back. Every mark explained.

A marked answer from this course, exactly as a student sees it.

  1. SAQ (A) Topic 2A Ionic, Question 7: the KBr latticeEach marking point boxed on the student's own answer, with the worked answer and the teacher's comment.
    A marked drawing question, SAQ (A) Topic 2A Ionic Question 7: the student's drawing of the potassium bromide lattice, each marking point boxed green, 2 out of 2, and the mark scheme
    The worked answer shown after markingThe teacher's comment to the student
  • 5quizzes
  • 64questions
  • 150marks
  • 1quiz marked each week

Not all writing. You draw and calculate too.

How the 64 questions split.

Written
52
Drawing
11
Graph
1
Full details of the SAQ Bank

What is the SAQ Bank?

The SAQ Bank for Topic 2A/2B is a written-answer practice engine marked by a specialist chemistry teacher, assisted by KASP. It runs to 5 quizzes, 64 questions and 150 marks.

You attempt one quiz per week, submit your full written response, and your teacher returns mark-by-mark feedback the following Monday. Every comment is targeted at the exam wording you need to use.

Quizzes
5
Questions
64
Marks
150
Marks per quiz
30

A submitted SAQ and the feedback it gets

This is an original question from the bank with its full mark scheme. The submitted answer below is an example of a typical response at this standard. Expand the panel to see how it was marked.

Electrical conductivity of potassium and potassium chloride

2B.27i (Edexcel A level)4 marks

Explain the electrical conductivities of potassium and potassium chloride in the solid and liquid states.

Submitted answer

Potassium conducts electricity when it is solid and when it is liquid, because it has delocalised electrons that are free to move through the lattice. Potassium chloride does not conduct when it is solid but it does conduct when it is molten.

View returned feedback →
Returned by your chemistry specialist3 / 4 · 75%
Mark scheme
Criterion
✓potassium conducts when solid and liquid
Awarded – both states stated explicitly.
✓because it has delocalised electrons that move
Awarded – delocalised electrons correctly identified as the mobile charge carrier.
✓potassium chloride only conducts when liquid / molten
Awarded – you were clear that the solid does not conduct and the molten form does.
✗because its ions are free to move
Not awarded. You said when potassium chloride conducts but not why. The mark needs the reason: in the molten state the ions are free to move, whereas in the solid they are held in fixed positions in the lattice.
Teacher comment

A well-structured answer, Sara – you separated the two substances and the two states cleanly, and the delocalised-electron explanation for potassium is exactly right.

You have simply stopped one step short on the second half: every time you state that something conducts, follow it with the charge carrier that makes it possible.

For an ionic solid that is always ‘the ions are free to move when molten, but fixed in the lattice when solid’. Pair the observation with the carrier and you will not drop this mark again.

A predictable weekly rhythm over 5 weeks

One quiz per week across the 5 quizzes, so the SAQ Bank runs as a 5-week programme. Submit anywhere from Monday to Friday, marking happens over the weekend, and you receive your feedback by the following Monday.

The rhythm is the same every week so you always know when to expect a return.

Mon
Submit
Tue
Submit
Wed
Submit
Thu
Submit
Fri
Submit
Sat
Marking
Sun
Marking
Mon
Returned

One attempt per quiz, one quiz submitted per week. Because the same spec points reappear across the 5 quizzes, your scores over the programme show real improvement – not repeat-attempt inflation.

The weekly cap also keeps the marking load manageable so your feedback stays thorough and detailed.

5 quizzes, 150 marks of written practice

The SAQ Bank holds 64 questions and 150 marks between its 5 quizzes.

Every quiz is worth 30 marks, and runs to between 12 and 14 questions depending on how the marks fall, with the parts of each multi-part question kept together in the same quiz.

Every question is original, written at real Edexcel A level exam difficulty, across the whole topic pair.

Topic 2A: Ionic Bonding

3 quizzes · 90 marks
SAQ A
30
marks · 14 questions
SAQ B
30
marks · 12 questions
SAQ C
30
marks · 13 questions

Topic 2A/2B: Metallic Bonding

2 quizzes · 60 marks
SAQ A
30
marks · 12 questions
SAQ B
30
marks · 13 questions
150 total marks64 questions1 quiz per week, over 5 weeksReturned the following Monday

What the written questions ask you to do

The bank is not all prose. Alongside written explanations you are asked to draw structures and mechanisms and to work through calculations, all marked by a specialist chemistry teacher, assisted by KASP, against the same mark scheme.

Question styleQuestionsWhat it asks for
Written answer52Explanations, descriptions, equations and definitions, marked against the exam mark scheme point by point.
Drawing11Structural and displayed formulae, skeletal structures and mechanism steps, drawn on screen and marked by your teacher, assisted by KASP.
Graph1Plotting points, drawing a line of best fit and reading values off it, marked against the same tolerance an examiner would apply.
Total64
At a glance

What you get with the SAQ Bank

150 marks across 5 quizzes

3 quizzes on Topic 2A and 2 on Topic 2A/2B, holding 64 questions between them at 30 marks per quiz.

Marked by a teacher, assisted by KASP

KASP drafts the marking; your teacher reads your answer end to end, decides every mark and writes the comments.

Per-mark feedback

Every mark in the scheme is checked off explicitly. You see exactly which marks you earned and what wording the missed ones needed.

Predictable weekly turnaround

Submit by Friday, marked over the weekend, feedback returned by Monday. One quiz per week; one attempt per quiz; 5 weeks end to end.

Exam-board wording focus

Feedback teaches the precise language the Edexcel mark scheme rewards, so the next time the topic appears you write to score.

Feeds your KASP dashboard

Every SAQ is spec-point tagged. Once marked, your scores flow into KASP Analytics alongside your MCQ results.

22 of 69 spec points. Assessed.

Edexcel A Level Chemistry, Topic 2: Bonding and Structure (ionic and metallic bonding and structure).

27 more are assessed in the Covalent Bonding, Structure and Shapes of Molecules course.

Not yet assessed: intermolecular forces (2A.16 to 2A.21, a separate course), 2B.24 and 2B.26-a.

2A Bonding

  • 2A.1Ionic bonding
  • 2A.2Ionic radius and bond strength
  • 2A.3Forming ions
  • 2A.4Dot-and-cross diagrams of ions
  • 2A.5Trends in ionic radii
  • 2A.6Evidence for ions
  • 2A.7Covalent bonding
  • 2A.8Dot-and-cross diagrams
  • 2A.14Bonding continuum
  • 2A.22Metallic bonding

2B Structure

  • 2B.23Giant lattices
  • 2B.26Predicting structure and bonding
  • 2B.27Predicting physical properties

Ionic and Metallic Bonding and Structure, for £9.70.

288 minutes of video, 92 MCQs, 150 SAQ marks marked by a teacher, assisted by KASP.

Add to basket
Every spec point, in full
Exam Board Alignment

Ionic & Metallic - Bonding & Structure - Topic 2A/B - Edexcel A Level Chemistry

This course covers the following Edexcel A Level Chemistry specification points. These are limited to ionic bonding, metallic bonding, ionic structure and metallic structure.

1
know that ionic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
2
understand the effects that ionic radius and ionic charge have on the strength of ionic bonding
3
understand the formation of ions in terms of electron loss or gain
4
be able to draw electronic configuration diagrams of cations and anions using dot-and-cross diagrams
5
understand reasons for the trends in ionic radii down a group and for a set of isoelectronic ions, e.g. N3− to Al3+
6
understand that the physical properties of ionic compounds and the migration of ions provide evidence for the existence of ions
22
know that metallic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between metal ions and the delocalised electrons
23
know that giant lattices are present in:
i
ionic solids (giant ionic lattices)
iii
solid metals (giant metallic lattices)
26
be able to predict the type of structure and bonding present in a substance from numerical data and/or other information
27
be able to predict the physical properties of a substance, including melting and boiling temperature, electrical conductivity and solubility in water, in terms of:
i
the types of particle present, including ions and electrons where relevant
ii
the structure of the substance
iii
the type of bonding
Specification Coverage

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

The following specification points are limited to ionic bonding, metallic bonding, ionic structure and metallic structure.

1
know that ionic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
2
understand the effects that ionic radius and ionic charge have on the strength of ionic bonding
3
understand the formation of ions in terms of electron loss or gain
4
be able to draw electronic configuration diagrams of cations and anions using dot-and-cross diagrams
5
understand reasons for the trends in ionic radii down a group and for a set of isoelectronic ions, e.g. N3− to Al3+
6
understand that the physical properties of ionic compounds and the migration of ions provide evidence for the existence of ions
22
know that metallic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between metal ions and the delocalised electrons
23
know that giant lattices are present in:
i
ionic solids (giant ionic lattices)
iii
solid metals (giant metallic lattices)
26
be able to predict the type of structure and bonding present in a substance from numerical data and/or other information
27
be able to predict the physical properties of a substance, including melting and boiling temperature, electrical conductivity and solubility in water, in terms of:
i
the types of particle present, including ions and electrons where relevant
ii
the structure of the substance
iii
the type of bonding
Complete Topic Package

Learn the content, practise exam questions, and identify exactly where marks are being lost.

This course combines guided video teaching, diagnostic MCQs, teacher-marked written assessment, and detailed specification reporting for Edexcel A Level Chemistry.

Exam-focused learning with clear performance feedback

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