Bonding and

Structure
Chemistry Notes
GCE Study Buddy
 What is Bonding?
• Bonding is the way in which atoms combine with
one another
• The resulting arrangement is called structure
• On the valency electrons in the outermost shell are
involved in bonding
• The maximum number of electrons in the first shell is
two (duplet).
• The maximum number of electrons in the second
shell is 8 (octet)
• The aim of bonding is to achieve a noble gas
structure
o 8 electrons in the outermost shell to make it stable
 Metallic Bonding
• Only in metals
• Metals have free electrons in their outermost shell
• Metals are electropositive in nature  tend to lose
their valence electrons to form positive ions
• As the atoms are packed so closely together, the
outermost valence electrons become delocalised
• This results in a closely-packed, regular arrangement
of positive metal ions in a sea of mobile valence
electrons that bind the ions together
o The free valence electrons bod the metal ions together in layers
o These electrons are free to move and hence enable metals to conduct
electricity
 Metal Properties
Properties Reasons
High densities Due to close packing of atoms in metals
High melting and boiling Strong forces of attraction between atoms cause
points high melting and boiling points of metals
Malleable and ductile When force is applied to a metal, the atoms can
slide over one another, thus allowing the metal to
be malleable (can be hammered into different
shapes) and ductile (can be pulled into wires)
Good heat conductor Vibration of atoms and outermost electron helps to
transfer heat energy
Good electrical The free outermost electrons allow metal to
conductors conduct electricity. When a metal is connected to a
circuit, the electrons move towards the positive
terminal, and the electrons from the negative
terminal flow to the metals to replace them
 Ionic Bonding
• Only occur between a metal and a non-metal
o Eg sodium chloride, potassium bromide, calcium chloride etc

• Ionic bonds are formed when metallic atoms give

away valence electrons to non-metallic atoms
• By losing electrons the metal becomes positively-
charged, and by gaining electrons, the non-metal
becomes negatively charged
• These opposite charges attract each other through
strong electrostatic forces of attraction, forming the
ionic bond
 Ionic Compounds
• The ions formed by electron loss or gain are
regularly arranged in the form of a giant crystal
lattice
• The lattices are very stable due to the strong
electrostatic forces between the ions
 Ionic Bonding –
Sodium Chloride

Sodium loses 1 electron Chlorine gains 1

from its outermost shell electron from sodium
 Ionic Bonding Properties
Properties Reasons
Crystalline solids at room temperature Regular arrangement of the ions in a
lattice with ions with opposite charge
next to each other
High melting and boiling points Ions are attracted by strong
electrostatic forces which are hard to
break
Often soluble in water Water is a polar solvent and so
charged ions can move easily in it
Conduct electricity when molten or In liquid or solution form, the ions are
dissolved in water free to move and hence carry charges
Do not conduct electricity when solid The charged ions are bonding together
and cannot move in a solid
 Note: polarisation
• Most ionic substances dissolve in water because
water has a separation of charge  polarization
which causes water molecules to arrange
themselves around ions.
o The positive ions attract the negative side of the water molecule (oxygen
end)
o The negative ions attract the positive side of the water molecule
(hydrogen side)
 Covalent Bonding
• Occurs between non-metals
o Eg. water, methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide

• Electrons are not transferred but shared to attain

stability in the atoms
• One electron shared  single covalent bond
• Two electrons shared  double covalent bond
• Three electrons shared  triple covalent bond
 Covalent Compounds
• Covalent compounds can be divided into:
o Molecular compounds
o Macromolecular compounds
 Molecular Compounds
• Made up of independent molecular units
• The attractive forces between molecules in solid,
covalent compounds (eg iodine and sulphur)are
very weak  called van der Waals’ forces, and
produces a weak, molecular lattice with low
melting points
• In water, there are other attractive forces between
molecules  hydrogen bonds, which give water
much higher melting and boiling points that
expected with such weak van der Waals’ forces
 Macromolecular
Compounds
• Have giant, covalent molecules with extremely
large molecular lattices
• Very stable, as all the atoms are joined together by
strong covalent bonds to give a giant 3-dimensional
lattice
o Often tetrahedral in shape, as every atom is covalently linked to 4 others
o Eg diamond and sand  a grain of sand or a diamond crystal is just one
giant molecule!
o Have very high melting points
Covalent Bonding
 Summary
Ionic Covalent: simple Covalent: Metals
macromolecule
Particles are ions Particles are small Particles are very Particles are atoms
molecules large molecules eg
sand, diamond,
graphite polyethene
Electrons lost or Electrons shared Electrons shared Positive ions in a sea
gained of electrons
Form stable giant Form simple form giant strong Form giant stable
crystal lattices with molecules with weak maromolecules lattices
strong forces between forces in between
ions
Usually solids Often gases or volatile Solids Solids (except
liquids mercury)
High melting and Low melting and High melting and High melting and
boiling points boiling points boiling points boiling points
Usually water soluble Often insoluble in Insoluble in water Some soluble in water
water
Conduct electricity Do not conduct Do not conduct Conduct electricity
when molten or electricity electricity (except when solid or liquid
aqueous graphite)
 Questions
1. An atom or group of atoms with a charge is called
a. Electron
b. Molecule
c. Metal
d. Ion

2. Which pair of elements will join to form a compound with

a one-to-one ratio?
a. Magnesium and chlorine
b. Sodium and oxygen
c. Potassium and fluorine
d. Lithium and sulpur
 Questions
3. A crystal is mostly to have a low melting point, if it
a.Is a macromolecule
b.Has crystal lattice
c.Has delocalised valence electrons
d.Has weak van der Waals’ forces

4. During the formation of an ionic bond, the atoms taking

part
a.Only gain electrons
b.Shared electrons
c.Lose and gain electrons
d.Only lose electrons