Bonding, Structure and Properties of Matter (Chemistry) Flashcards
6 cards from real GCSE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Bonding, Structure and Properties of Matter (Chemistry) flashcards as text
What type of bonding is found in sodium chloride (NaCl)?
Answer: Ionic
Sodium chloride is formed from a metal (sodium) and a non-metal (chlorine), so it contains ionic bonds between Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions.
Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?
Answer: There are strong electrostatic forces between oppositely charged ions that need a lot of energy to overcome
In a giant ionic lattice, many strong electrostatic attractions between ions must be broken, requiring lots of energy.
Which statement explains why ionic compounds conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in water, but not when solid?
Answer: The ions are free to move when molten or dissolved, but fixed in place in the solid
Conduction requires charged particles that can move. In the solid the ions are locked in the lattice; when molten or in solution they are free to carry charge.
How many covalent bonds does a single carbon atom form in a diamond structure?
Answer: 4
In diamond, each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms in a rigid giant covalent structure.
Which property of graphite makes it useful as a lubricant?
Answer: Its layers can slide over each other because there are only weak forces between them
Graphite's carbon atoms are arranged in layers held together by weak intermolecular forces, so the layers slide easily.
Why do simple molecular substances such as water and methane have low melting and boiling points?
Answer: Only the weak intermolecular forces between molecules need to be overcome, not the covalent bonds
Melting or boiling a simple molecular substance only breaks the weak intermolecular forces between molecules; the strong covalent bonds within the molecules stay intact.