CHEMICAL

BONDING

Metallic Bonding
Most metals are hard and have high
melting points
This suggests that the forces that are
holding them together are very strong
The electrons in a metallic structure are
delocalised
Metallic bonding is sometime described
as an array of positive ions in a sea of
free electrons

Ionic Bonding
Some elements obtain a full shell because they
lose or gain electrons when they react with
other elements. This is called Ionic Bonding.
If an atom loses an electron it becomes positive
If an atom gains an electron it becomes negative
Ionic bonding always occurs between a metal and
a non-metal
the metal always loses electrons to form a cation
the non-metal always gains electrons to form an
anion
Overall ionic compounds are always neutral

Ionic Compounds
Ionic bonds always produce giant ionic structures
The ions form a closely packed regular lattice arrangement
They have very strong electrostatic attractions between
all the ions
A single crystal of salt is 1 giant ionic lattice
Key Facts
They have high melting points due to very strong
attractions between all the ions
Conduct electricity when aqueous as the ions separate
and are free to move
They conduct electricity when molten, again the ions are
free to move

Covalent Bonding

Covalent bonding is the sharing of electrons

Happens between two non-metals
A covalent bond is a shared pair of electrons
Covalent bonds are very strong
They have low boiling and melting points
The weak attractions produce weak lattices
They have weak intermolecular forces
Covalent molecules dont carry a charge
Dont conduct electricity (except water)
Most covalent compounds are insoluble in water
Arranged in a regular lattice and when cool they form
simple molecular crystals

A covalent bond

Shorthan
d:
H-O-H

Intermolecular Forces
The forces of attraction between separate molecules
are called intermolecular forces or
intermolecular attractions. They are a lot weaker
than covalent or ionic bonds and vary in strength
from substance to substance
E.g. Sugar doesnt melt until 185C. This meaning
that the intermolecular forces are quite strong
Intermolecular forces arise from slightly electrical
distortions in the molecule
In melting, some but not all of the intermolecular
forces are broken. However in boiling the attractions
are totally disrupted and the molecules become
free to move around as a gas
When you melt or boil a substance the
intermolecular forced break not the covalent bonds.

Macromolecular (giant covalent)

Structures
Key Points:
Lattice structure similar to ionic
lattices but no charge
Dont conduct electricity (except
graphite)
Usually dont dissolve in water
Covalent bonds between each atom
are strong
Main examples are Diamond and
Graphite

diamond

Tetrahedral lattice
Each bond attached to 4 others
Used in saw blades to cut hard things
Doesnt dissolve in any substance
Allotrope of carbon
High melting and boiling points
Attractions between layers are weak
Used in pencils and as a lubricant
Less dense than diamond because the layers are
twice the distances apart
Each bond attached to 3 others. The other is free
to move around
Conducts electricity because of the spare electron

Also known as Quartz and Sand

Attached to 4 other electrons
Heated to make glass
Each silicon atoms is attached to 2
oxygen atoms
Each grain of sand is one giant covalent
sulphur dioxide