BONDING QUESTIONS

1.a) Define the term covalent bond. (2)

(b) Nitrogen forms an oxide called nitrous oxide, N
2
O. The bonding in nitrous oxide can be represented as:
NN O
Complete the diagram below for the N
2
O molecule using dots or crosses to represent electrons. Just show all
of the outer shell electrons. (3)


2. This question is about the properties of ions and ionic compounds.
(a) Solid calcium carbonate, CaCO3, has a giant ionic structure.
(i) Draw a diagram (using dots or crosses) for a calcium ion. Show ALL the electrons and the charge on
the ion. (2)
(ii) Complete the electronic configuration for a calcium ion. (1)
1s
2

(iii) Would you expect a calcium ion to be bigger, smaller or the same size as a calcium atom? Give
TWO reasons to explain your answer. (2)
(iv) Explain why ionic compounds have relatively high melting temperatures. (2)
(b) Changes in the concentration of ions in a solution can be estimated by measuring the
electrical conductivity of the solution.
(i) Explain why solutions of ions are able to conduct electricity. (1)
(ii) Suggest why aqueous solutions of calcium chloride, CaCl
2
(aq), and barium chloride, BaCl
2
(aq), of the
same molar concentration, have different electrical conductivities. (1)
(iii) 1 kg of a solution contains 0.100 mol of calcium ions, Ca
2+
. What is the concentration of the calcium
ions by mass in parts per million (ppm)?
[Assume the relative atomic mass of calcium is 40.] (2)
..........................ppm
*(c) Some buildings are made from limestone, which is mainly calcium carbonate. Gases in the atmosphere
such as sulfur dioxide, SO
2
, and nitrogen dioxide, NO
2
, can be responsible for damaging these
buildings. Describe how these gases come to be present in the atmosphere and explain how
they can damage a limestone building. (3)
(d) The lattice energy of calcium chloride, CaCl
2
, is 2258 kJ mol
1
based on an experimental Born-Haber
cycle and 2223 kJ mol
1
based on theoretical calculations. Would you expect its bonding to match
the ionic model? Justify your answer. (1)

3. This question is about the element chlorine (atomic number = 17).
(a) Complete the electronic structure of chlorine. (1)
1s
2
2s
2

(b) Chlorine forms compounds with magnesium and with carbon.
(i) Draw a dot and cross diagram to show the electronic structure of the compound magnesium chloride
(only the outer electrons need be shown). Include the charges present. (2)
(ii) Draw a dot and cross diagram to show the electronic structure of the compound tetrachloromethane
(only the outer electrons need be shown). (2)
*(iii) Suggest why the melting temperature of magnesium oxide is higher than that of magnesium chloride,
even though both are almost 100% ionic. (3)
(c) Magnesium chloride may be prepared from magnesium by reaction with chlorine or with hydrochloric
acid. Compare these two preparations in terms of the atom economies of the reactions. No
calculation is required. (2)

4. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and usually have high melting temperatures and boiling
temperatures.
(a) (i) Describe the structure of a metal. (2)
(ii) Describe the bonding in a metal. (2)
(b) Explain why the melting temperature of magnesium (650 C) is much higher than that of sodium
(98 C). (3)
(c) Explain how metals conduct electricity. (2)

5. (a) Explain how the atoms are held together by the covalent bond in a molecule of hydrogen. (1)
(b) Draw the dot and cross diagrams for
(i) methane, CH
4
(1)
(ii) ethene, CH
2
=CH
2
(1)
(iii) nitrogen, N
2
(1)
(iv) the ammonium ion, NH
4
+
(1)
(c) Silicon exists in a giant covalent lattice.
(i) The electrical conductivity of pure silicon is very low. Explain why this is so in terms of the
bonding. (2)
(ii) Explain the high melting temperature of silicon in terms of the bonding. (2)

6. (a) Briefly describe an experiment, with a diagram of the apparatus you would use, which shows that
there are oppositely charged ions in copper(II) chromate(VI), CuCrO
4
. Describe what you would expect to
see. (4)
Formula of ion Colour
Cu
2+
(aq)
CrO4
2-
(aq)
Diagram

(b) The ions in an ionic lattice are held together by an overall force of attraction.
(i) Describe the forces of attraction in an ionic lattice. (1)
(ii) Suggest two forces of repulsion which exist in an ionic lattice. (2)
(c) Part of the Born-Haber cycle for magnesium oxide, MgO, is shown below.

(i) Complete the empty box with the appropriate formulae and state symbols. (2)
(ii) Identify the enthalpy changes represented by the letters A and C. (2)
A
C
(iii) Give the expression for the enthalpy change F in terms of the other enthalpy changes A to E. (1)
F =
(d) The lattice composed of the ions Mg
2+
and O
2
is stronger than a lattice composed of the ions Mg
+
and
O

.
(i) Explain, in terms of the charges on the ions and the size of the cations, why this is so. (2)
(ii) Suggest how the lattice energy of Mg
2+
O
2
would differ from that of Mg
+
O

. (1)

7 . (a) (i) Complete the electronic configuration of the magnesium atom. (1)
1s
2

(ii) Complete the electronic configuration of the chlorine atom. (1)
1s
2

(b) (i) Write the equation, including state symbols, for the reaction of magnesium with chlorine. (2)
(ii) Name the type of bonding present in magnesium chloride. (1)
(iii) Draw a diagram (using dots or crosses) to show the bonding in magnesium chloride. Include ALL
the electrons in each species and the charges present. (3)
(c) State the type of bonding that exists in solid magnesium. (1)
Type
* (d) Explain fully why the melting temperature of magnesium is higher than that of sodium. (3)

8. The graph shows the variation in melting temperatures of the elements across Period 3 (Na to Ar) of the
Periodic Table.

(a) Complete the table below to show the type of structure and bonding for the elements shown. (3)
Element Structure Bonding
sodium
silicon
sulfur

(b) Explain why silicon has a much higher melting temperature than sulfur. (2)
*(c) Explain why the melting temperature increases from sodium to aluminium. (2)
(d) Magnesium forms the basic oxide magnesium oxide, MgO. This oxide is almost insoluble in water.
On gentle warming with dilute sulfuric acid, magnesium oxide reacts to form aqueous magnesium
sulfate solution.
*(i) Describe how you would use the above reaction to prepare a pure sample of magnesium sulfate. (5)
(ii) Suggest what action should be taken if a pupil spilt a small quantity of dilute sulfuric acid on a
laboratory bench. (1)
(e) The data in the table below will be useful when answering this question.
Soluble in water Insoluble in water
MgSO
4


MgCO
3

SrCO
3

SrSO
4


Magnesium carbonate reacts with dilute sulfuric acid.
MgCO
3
(s) + H
2
SO
4
(aq) MgSO
4
(aq) + CO
2
(g) + H
2
O(l)
(i) Explain why the reaction between strontium carbonate and dilute sulfuric acid stops after a few
seconds. (1)
(ii) Strontium sulfate is produced when aqueous sodium sulfate is added to aqueous strontium chloride.
Give the ionic equation for the reaction, including state symbols. (2)