Test Objectives: Bonding Basics

  • Know the definition of a chemical bond
  • Recognize that the driving force of all chemical bond formation is to achieve an octet (stable valence electron configuration just like the noble gases)
  • Be able to explain why energy is absorbed when a bond is broken (endothermic ) & energy is released when a bond is formed (exothermic)
  • compound product has less energy and is more stable than individual elements formed from
  • energy needed to overcome bonding forces holding elements together in a chemical bond
  • Be able to predict the bond type of a chemical substance from its chemical formula

Ionic Bonding:

  • know composed of metal and non-metal ions
  • know electrostatic attractions (attraction of oppositely charged ions) is force of attractionin ionic bond
  • know ionic compounds form crystal lattice structures and be able to explain in general terms how these structures are arranged
  • be able to explain the physical propertiesof ionic compounds (general referred to as ‘salts’):
  • hard, brittle, high melting points, low vapor pressure, high Hf, high Hv, soluble in water, know why ionic compounds in solid crystal form will shatter if struck hard
  • be able to explain why ionic compounds will not conduct electricity in the solid (crystalline) phase but will conduct electricity in the molten state or in aqueous solution
  • be able to draw Lewis Dot structures for ions & ionic compounds
  • be able to describe the 2 step process in ionic bond formation:

1. transfer of valence electrons:

  • from metal atom to non-metal atom due to large difference in electronegativity values between metal and non-metal atoms
  • results in formation of ions: (+) charged metal ion(s) called cations and (-) charged non-metal ion(s)called anions
  • be able to draw Lewis dot structures to illustrate electron transfer

2. ionic bondforms due to the electrostatic attraction of oppositely charged ions

Covalent Bonding:

  • know composed of non-metal elements only
  • knowelectrostatic attractions between (+) charged nuclear protonsof one atom and (-) charged electrons of neighboring atoms is the force of attractionthat forms a covalent bond
  • be able to discuss the properties of covalent substances
  • soft, brittle, low melting & boiling points, low Hf, low Hv, non-conductors of both heat & electricity
  • be able to draw Lewis Dot structures for covalent compounds
  • know that the small difference in electronegativity values between non-metal atoms results in non-metal atoms sharing their valence electrons in single,double and triple covalent bonds
  • know how many pairs of electrons are shared in each type covalent bond:
  • single bond: one pair shared
  • double bond: two pairs shared
  • triple bond: three pairs shared

Metallic Bonding:

  • know composed of same metal ions
  • be able to explain what is meant by the term “sea of mobile electrons”
  • freely flowing valence electrons moving from one overlapping valence shell to the next
  • know thatelectrostatic attractions between metal atom valence electrons metal cations formed from overlapping valence shells of same metal atoms is the force of attraction that forms a metallic bond
  • be able to discuss the physical properties of metals
  • explain the properties of metals in terms of delocalized electrons
  • know that the number of delocalized electrons determinesstrength & hardness of any metal 
  • be able to explain why metals are malleable & ductile when struck hardwhile ionic compounds will shatter