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Edexcel A Level Chemistry

Ionic Bonding

Ionic compounds form when electrons are transferred and oppositely charged ions attract each other in a giant ionic lattice.

Exam Papers
Paper 1 & 2
9CH0/01 and 9CH0/02
Specification Points
2.1 – 2.27
9 points covered
Sub-topics
3 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Edexcel
Pearson 9CH0

Revision Notes

Work through each part of Edexcel Topic 2 in a structured sequence.

Electron transfer
Nature of Ionic Bonding
ions and electrostatic attraction
1

Nature of Ionic Bonding

Revise electron transfer, ion formation and the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions in ionic compounds.

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Covalent character
Polarisation of Ions
cation pull and anion distortion
2

Polarisation of Ions

Learn how small highly charged cations can distort anion electron clouds, giving some ionic compounds partial covalent character.

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Giant lattice
Physical Properties of Ionic Compounds
melting temperature, brittleness and conductivity
3

Physical Properties of Ionic Compounds

Connect giant ionic lattice structure with melting temperature, solubility, brittleness and electrical conductivity.

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Summary map

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

Summary map · PDF

Ionic Bonding Map

Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 2 Bonding and Structure · Ionic Bonding

The whole section on one A4 page: forming ions, dot-and-cross diagrams, lattices and their strength, ionic radii and the evidence for ions.

Download the map6 key ideas + a data table · A4 portrait · print ready

© 2026 Online Learning System. For personal study: printing is allowed; editing, copying and redistribution are not.

Virtual Lessons

Virtual Lessons
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Virtual Lessons

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

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

  • Learn it before you revise itEach lesson explains the chemistry step by step, with the diagrams, mechanisms and worked examples the exam expects.
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  • Your progress is keptA lesson is ticked off once you have watched most of it, here and in your course on Moodle.
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Multiple Choice Question Exam Practice

Multiple choice
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yourself
MCQ (A) to (D)
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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.

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4 exam-style multiple-choice papers, MCQ (A) to (D): 77 questions on Topic 2A Ionic Bonding, written the way the exam asks them.

  • Marked the moment you submitYour score straight away, with every answer explained, right or wrong.
  • Revise what you missedEach explanation links to the revision notes for that point.
  • MCQ (A) is freeTry the first paper now. MCQ (B) to (D) come with the course.
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Exam Practice Questions

Teacher marked
Write
& draw
3 exam papers
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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.

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3 exam papers, (A) to (C): 39 questions on Topic 2A Ionic Bonding with no multiple choice. You write explanations, work out calculations and draw answers: structures, mechanisms and diagrams.

  • Answer the way the exam asksThe real paper wants written, worked and drawn answers, so that is how you practise.
  • Marked by a teacher, assisted by KASPA specialist chemistry teacher marks every answer against the mark scheme, with feedback on what to fix.
  • One paper marked each weekYour marked paper comes back here with every marking point shown.
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Specification

Specification Coverage

Ionic Bonding – Edexcel A Level Chemistry

The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 2.

2A: Bonding

2.1
know that ionic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
2.2
understand the effects that ionic radius and ionic charge have on the strength of ionic bonding
2.3
understand the formation of ions in terms of electron loss or gain
2.5
understand reasons for the trends in ionic radii down a group and for a set of isoelectronic ions, e.g. N3- to Al3+
2.6
understand that the physical properties of ionic compounds and the migration of ions provide evidence for the existence of ions
2.14
know that ionic and covalent bonding are the extremes of a continuum of bonding type and that electronegativity differences lead to bond polarity in bonds and molecules
2.21
understand factors that influence the choice of solvents, including:
i
water, to dissolve some ionic compounds, in terms of the hydration of the ions
ii
water, to dissolve simple alcohols, in terms of hydrogen bonding
iii
water, as a poor solvent for compounds, to include polar molecules such as halogenoalkanes, in terms of inability to form hydrogen bonds
iv
non-aqueous solvents, for compounds that have similar intermolecular forces to those in the solvent

2B: Structure

2.23
know that giant lattices are present in:
i
ionic solids, giant ionic lattices
ii
covalently bonded solids, such as diamond, graphite and silicon(IV) oxide, giant covalent lattices
iii
solid metals, giant metallic lattices
2.27
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, atoms, molecules, ions, electrons
ii
the structure of the substance
iii
the type of bonding and the presence of intermolecular forces, where relevant
Specification Coverage

Ionic Bonding – Edexcel A Level Chemistry

The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 2.

2A: Bonding

2.1
know that ionic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
2.2
understand the effects that ionic radius and ionic charge have on the strength of ionic bonding
2.3
understand the formation of ions in terms of electron loss or gain
2.5
understand reasons for the trends in ionic radii down a group and for a set of isoelectronic ions, e.g. N3- to Al3+
2.6
understand that the physical properties of ionic compounds and the migration of ions provide evidence for the existence of ions
2.14
know that ionic and covalent bonding are the extremes of a continuum of bonding type and that electronegativity differences lead to bond polarity in bonds and molecules
2.21
understand factors that influence the choice of solvents, including:
i
water, to dissolve some ionic compounds, in terms of the hydration of the ions
ii
water, to dissolve simple alcohols, in terms of hydrogen bonding
iii
water, as a poor solvent for compounds, to include polar molecules such as halogenoalkanes, in terms of inability to form hydrogen bonds
iv
non-aqueous solvents, for compounds that have similar intermolecular forces to those in the solvent

2B: Structure

2.23
know that giant lattices are present in:
i
ionic solids, giant ionic lattices
ii
covalently bonded solids, such as diamond, graphite and silicon(IV) oxide, giant covalent lattices
iii
solid metals, giant metallic lattices
2.27
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, atoms, molecules, ions, electrons
ii
the structure of the substance
iii
the type of bonding and the presence of intermolecular forces, where relevant