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Edexcel International A Level Chemistry

Topic 3
Bonding
& Structure

Topic 3 explains how particles are held together and how bonding affects structure and properties. This topic covers ionic bonding, covalent bonding, molecular shapes, bond polarity, electronegativity, metallic bonding and the relationship between structure and physical behaviour.

Exam Unit
Unit 1
WCH11/01 – IAS
Specification Points
3.1 – 3.22
22 points covered
Sub-topics
5 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Edexcel International
Pearson International

Revision Notes

5 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.

A cube lattice of alternating large and small ions
1

Ionic Bonding & Structure

Ion formation, dot-and-cross diagrams, ionic lattices, electrostatic attraction, ionic radii and polarisation.

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Two overlapping atoms sharing a pair of electrons
2

Covalent Bonding & Structure

Covalent attraction, dot-and-cross diagrams, dative covalent bonds, carbon structures, electronegativity and polarity.

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A ball-and-stick molecule with six atoms around a centre
3

Shapes of Molecules

Electron-pair repulsion theory, bond angles, bond lengths and predicting the shapes of molecules and ions.

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Rows of metal ions in a sea of electrons
4

Metallic Bonding & Structure

Giant metallic lattices, delocalised electrons, electrical conductivity and high melting temperatures.

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Separate small molecules beside one giant network
5

Structure Types

Giant ionic, giant metallic, giant covalent and simple molecular lattices compared: what holds each together and how that decides its properties.

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Summary Map

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Summary map

Download, print and revise the key facts of this topic at a glance.

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Summary map · PDF

Solid Lattices Map

Edexcel International A Level Chemistry · Unit 1 · Topic 3E Solid Lattices

The whole section on one A4 page: diamond, graphite and graphene, the four kinds of solid lattice, and how to deduce a structure from its properties.

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Virtual Lessons

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Virtual Lessons

Taught step by step in 2 recorded video lessons, to watch at your own pace.

Topic 3A Ionic Bonding taught by a specialist chemistry teacher, in 2 recorded video lessons that follow the specification.

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MCQ Bank

Multiple-choice papers on this topic, marked the moment you submit. MCQ (A) is free.

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Test yourself: 4 MCQ papers

Exam-style multiple-choice papers, marked the moment you submit with every answer explained. MCQ (A) is free.

4 exam-style multiple-choice papers, MCQ (A) to (D): 77 questions on Topic 3A Ionic Bonding, written the way the exam asks them.

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Written, drawn and worked exam practice on this topic, marked by a specialist chemistry teacher.

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Written and drawn answers: 3 papers

Draw, write and calculate the way the exam asks, then a specialist chemistry teacher marks your work.

3 exam papers, (A) to (C): 39 questions on Topic 3A Ionic Bonding with no multiple choice. You write explanations, work out calculations and draw answers: structures, mechanisms and diagrams.

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Specification

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3.1

  1. a

    know evidence for the existence of ions from physical properties of ionic compounds

    Revise
  2. b

    know evidence for the existence of ions from electron density maps

    Revise
  3. c

    know evidence for the existence of ions from the migration of ions

    Revise
  4. d

    be able to interpret evidence for the existence of ions from physical properties of ionic compounds

    Revise
  5. e

    be able to interpret evidence for the existence of ions from electron density maps

    Revise
  6. f

    be able to interpret evidence for the existence of ions from the migration of ions

    Revise

3.2

  1. a

    be able to describe the formation of positive ions in terms of loss of electrons

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to describe the formation of negative ions in terms of gain of electrons

    Revise

3.3

  1. a

    be able to draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show electrons in cations

  2. b

    be able to draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show electrons in anions

3.4

  1. 3.4

    be able to describe ionic crystals as giant lattices of ions

    Revise

3.5

  1. 3.5

    know that ionic bonding is the result of strong net electrostatic attraction between ions

    Revise

3.6

  1. a

    understand the effect of ionic radius on the strength of ionic bonding

    Revise
  2. b

    understand the effect of ionic charge on the strength of ionic bonding

    Revise

3.7

  1. a

    understand reasons for the trends in ionic radii down a group in the Periodic Table

    Revise
  2. b

    understand reasons for trends in ionic radii for a set of isoelectronic ions, including N3− to Al3+

    Revise

3.8

  1. 3.8

    understand the meaning of the term ‘polarisation’ as applied to ions

    Revise

3.9

  1. a

    understand that the polarising power of a cation depends on its radius

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  2. b

    understand that the polarising power of a cation depends on its charge

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  3. c

    understand that the polarisability of an anion depends on its radius

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  4. d

    understand that the polarisability of an anion depends on its charge

    Revise

3.10

  1. i

    understand that covalent bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between two nuclei and the shared pair of electrons between them, based on the evidence: the physical properties of giant atomic structures

    Revise
  2. ii

    understand that covalent bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between two nuclei and the shared pair of electrons between them, based on the evidence: electron density maps for simple molecules

    Revise

3.11

  1. i

    be able to draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show electrons in covalent substances, including: molecules with single, double and triple bonds

    Revise
  2. ii

    be able to draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show electrons in covalent substances, including: species with dative covalent (coordinate) bonds, including Al2Cl6 and the ammonium ion

    Revise

3.12

  1. a

    be able to describe the structure of graphite

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to describe the structure of diamond

    Revise
  3. c

    be able to describe the structure of graphene

    Revise
  4. d

    be able to discuss applications of graphite

    Revise
  5. e

    be able to discuss applications of diamond

    Revise
  6. f

    be able to discuss applications of graphene

    Revise

3.13

  1. 3.13

    understand the meaning of the term ‘electronegativity’ as applied to atoms in a covalent bond

    Revise

3.14

  1. a

    know that ionic and covalent bonding are the extremes of a continuum of bonding type

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to explain the continuum of bonding type in terms of electronegativity differences

    Revise
  3. c

    be able to explain how electronegativity differences lead to bond polarity in bonds

    Revise
  4. d

    be able to explain how electronegativity differences lead to polar molecules

    Revise
  5. e

    be able to explain how large electronegativity differences lead to ionic bonding

    Revise

3.15

  1. a

    be able to distinguish between polar bonds and polar molecules

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to predict whether or not a given molecule is likely to be polar

    Revise

3.16

  1. a

    understand the principles of electron-pair repulsion theory

    Revise
  2. b

    use electron-pair repulsion theory to interpret shapes of simple molecules and ions

    Revise
  3. c

    use electron-pair repulsion theory to predict shapes of simple molecules and ions

    Revise

3.17

  1. a

    understand the term 'bond length'

    Revise
  2. b

    understand the term 'bond angle'

    Revise

3.18

  1. a

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, BeCl2

    Revise
  2. b

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, BCl3

    Revise
  3. c

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, CH4

    Revise
  4. d

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, NH3

    Revise
  5. e

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, NH4+

    Revise
  6. f

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, H2O

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  7. g

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, CO2

    Revise
  8. h

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, gaseous PCl5

    Revise
  9. i

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, SF6

    Revise
  10. j

    know and be able to explain the shape of, and bond angle in, C2H4

3.19

  1. a

    be able to apply electron-pair repulsion theory to predict the shapes of molecules and ions analogous to those in 3.18

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to apply electron-pair repulsion theory to predict the bond angles in molecules and ions analogous to those in 3.18

    Revise

3.20

  1. a

    understand that metals consist of giant lattices of metal ions

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  2. b

    understand that metals contain a sea of delocalised electrons

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3.21

  1. 3.21

    know that metallic bonding involves strong electrostatic attraction between metal ions and delocalised electrons

    Revise

3.22

  1. a

    be able to use the giant lattice model of metals to interpret simple properties

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to use the sea of delocalised electrons model to interpret simple properties

    Revise