Bonding Basics
Why do atoms form bonds with each other?
To become more stable.
What types of elements form ionic bonds?
A metal and a nonmetal.
In a covalent bond, electrons are: shared, transferred, or destroyed?
Shared between atoms.
Which property is typical of metallic bonds?
Ability to bend and stretch (malleable, ductile).
Which best describes the compound NaCl (table salt)?
An ionic compound formed from transferred electrons.
What is the octet rule?
Atoms bond to have 8 electrons in their outer shell.
In an ionic bond, what happens to the electrons?
They are transferred from one atom to another.
Which of the following is a covalent compound? H₂O, NaCl, or MgO?
H₂O.
Which type of bond allows electricity to flow easily in solid form?
Metallic.
Why do metals appear shiny?
They reflect light due to freely moving electrons.
Explain the difference between ionic and covalent bonds.
Ionic = transfer electrons; Covalent = share electrons.
What kind of structure do ionic compounds form?
A crystal lattice.
What is a metallic bond?
A “sea of freely moving electrons” around metal atoms.
Which bond type usually has the highest melting point?
Ionic.
Which statement best compares all three bond types?
Metallic = free electrons, Ionic = transfer, Covalent = share
Which particles are involved in bonding between atoms?
Valence electrons.
What is a positive ion called?
A cation.
Why do covalent compounds like water not conduct electricity well?
They don’t have charged particles (ions) to carry current.
What makes covalent compounds have lower melting points?
Weaker forces between molecules
What kind of bond is found in a molecule of oxygen gas (O₂)?
Covalent bond – electrons are shared between atoms.
How do chemical bonds affect the stability of atoms?
Bonds make atoms more stable by achieving full outer shells.
Give an example of an ionic compound and its use.
NaCl – table salt used in food and preservation.
Why are metals good conductors of heat and electricity?
Their electrons move freely through the “sea of electrons.”
Why are ionic compounds brittle?
Their rigid crystal structures break when layers shift.
How does bonding help explain why salt is solid, water is liquid, and copper is metal?
Ionic = strong lattice (solid), Covalent = weak attraction (liquid), Metallic = mobile electrons (solid metal).