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Chemical Bonding: Unit Flashcards

Identifying bonds · Drawing bonds · Properties · Naming · Designing materials · Molecular geometry · Molecular polarity — 126 cards

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Identifying bonds 15 cards
The ΔEN rule for bond type?›

Less than 0.5: nonpolar covalent. 0.5 to 1.7: polar covalent. More than 1.7: ionic.

The four bond types on the test?›

Metallic, ionic, polar covalent and nonpolar covalent.

Which type of bond holds NaCl together?›

Ionic. A metal (Na) with a non-metal (Cl): ΔEN = 3.0 − 0.9 = 2.1, so electrons are transferred and the ions attract.

Which type of bond holds a piece of copper wire together?›

Metallic. Copper is a metal: its + ions sit in a sea of free-moving electrons.

Which type of bond is in a Cl₂ molecule?›

Nonpolar covalent. Two identical non-metal atoms: ΔEN = 0, so the pair is shared equally.

The O–H bond in water has ΔEN = 1.4. What kind of bond is it?›

Polar covalent. Two non-metals with ΔEN between 0.5 and 1.7: shared unequally, pulled toward O.

In an ionic bond, what happens to the electrons?›

They are transferred from the metal to the non-metal. The metal loses electrons and becomes a + ion; the non-metal gains them and becomes a − ion. The opposite charges attract.

In a metallic bond, what do the valence electrons do?›

They move freely among the positive metal ions. This "sea of electrons" explains why metals conduct and can be bent.

A C–H bond has ΔEN = 0.4. What kind of bond is it?›

Nonpolar covalent. Below 0.5 counts as nonpolar covalent.

A metal and a non-metal have ΔEN = 2.3. What kind of bond forms?›

Ionic. Above about 1.7 between a metal and a non-metal, the electron is transferred: ionic.

Brass is made of copper and zinc. What holds it together?›

Metallic bonds. Two metals: an alloy, held by metallic bonding.

In the polar bond H–Cl, which atom is δ− (slightly negative)?›

Cl, because it is more electronegative. The shared pair is pulled toward the more electronegative atom, Cl (3.0 vs 2.1).

Sodium nitrate, NaNO₃, contains which bonds?›

Both ionic and covalent. Ionic between Na⁺ and NO₃⁻; covalent between N and O inside the nitrate ion.

What is the difference between a polar and a nonpolar covalent bond?›

Whether the shared electrons are shared unequally or equally. Both share electrons. In a polar bond one atom pulls the pair closer.

What does ΔEN stand for?›

The difference in electronegativity between the two bonded atoms. ΔEN = larger EN − smaller EN. Under 0.5 nonpolar, 0.5–1.7 polar covalent, over 1.7 ionic.

Drawing bonds 16 cards
The 4 steps for a Lewis structure?›

1 Count valence electrons (adjust for charge). 2 Skeleton with single bonds. 3 Lone pairs on outer atoms, leftovers on the centre. 4 Make multiple bonds if the centre lacks 8.

How do you draw an ionic compound?›

Each ion in square brackets with its charge outside. The metal ion has no dots; the non-metal ion has 8.

Formal charge formula?›

Valence electrons − lone-pair electrons − number of bonds.

In the dot diagram of CaCl₂, what do you draw?›

One [Ca]²⁺ and two [Cl]⁻, each Cl with 8 dots. Ca gives away 2 electrons, one to each Cl. Charges: 2+ and 2 × 1− add to zero.

How many valence electrons does CO₃²⁻ have in total?›

24. C 4 + O 3 × 6 = 22, plus 2 for the 2− charge = 24.

How many valence electrons does NH₄⁺ have in total?›

8. N 5 + H 4 × 1 = 9, minus 1 for the + charge = 8.

Which atom goes in the centre of the Lewis structure of CH₂O?›

C. Carbon forms the most bonds (4) and is the least electronegative. H is never central.

Why can hydrogen never be the central atom?›

It can form only one bond. H needs only 2 electrons, so it makes one bond and is always on the outside.

How many lone pairs are on the O atom in H₂O?›

2. 8 electrons: 2 O–H bonds use 4, the other 4 are 2 lone pairs on O.

What kind of bond joins the two atoms in N₂?›

A triple bond. 10 electrons: N≡N with one lone pair on each N gives both atoms 8.

How many electrons are in a double bond?›

4. Each dash is one shared pair = 2 electrons. A double bond is 2 pairs.

What must the Lewis structure of a polyatomic ion always show?›

Square brackets with the charge outside. The charge belongs to the whole ion, so it goes outside the brackets, top right.

NO₃⁻ is drawn as three structures joined by ↔. What does that mean?›

The double bond can go to any of the three O atoms; the real ion is a blend. That is resonance. All three N–O bonds are identical in the real ion.

What is the formal charge on N in NH₄⁺?›

+1. FC = valence − lone-pair electrons − bonds = 5 − 0 − 4 = +1.

Which carbon–carbon bond is the shortest and strongest?›

C≡C. Higher bond order = more shared pairs = shorter and stronger.

In step 4 of drawing a Lewis structure, the central atom has only 6 electrons. What do you do?›

Move a lone pair from an outer atom to make a double bond. You never add electrons. You turn a lone pair into a shared pair.

Properties 16 cards
Properties of ionic compounds?›

High melting point, hard but brittle, conduct only when molten or dissolved, often soluble in water.

Properties of metals?›

Conduct heat and electricity as solids, malleable, ductile, shiny, usually high melting points.

Properties of molecular covalent substances?›

Low melting and boiling points, soft, do not conduct.

Properties of covalent network solids?›

Very hard, very high melting points, do not conduct (graphite is the exception). Diamond, quartz.

Which type of substance conducts electricity as a solid?›

Metallic. Only metals have electrons that are free to move in the solid.

Solid NaCl does not conduct electricity, but melted NaCl does. Why?›

The ions are free to move once it melts. Ions carry the current. In the solid they are locked in the lattice.

Why are ionic crystals brittle?›

A shifted layer puts like charges next to each other, and they repel. A knock moves one layer by one ion: + meets + and − meets −, so the crystal splits.

Why can metals be hammered into sheets without breaking?›

The ion layers slide while the electron sea keeps holding them. Malleable and ductile: nothing has to break when the layers move.

Sugar is covalent and melts at a low temperature. Why?›

The forces between its molecules are weak. Melting separates molecules from each other. It does not break the bonds inside them.

A solid is hard, brittle, melts at 800 °C and conducts only when dissolved in water. What is it?›

Ionic. High melting point, brittle, conducts only when the ions can move: ionic.

A solid is shiny, bends without breaking and conducts electricity. What is it?›

Metallic. Lustre, malleability and conduction as a solid all come from the electron sea.

A substance is a gas at room temperature and does not conduct. What is it?›

Molecular covalent. Small molecules with weak forces between them: low melting and boiling points.

A solid is extremely hard, melts above 3000 °C and does not conduct or dissolve. What is it?›

Covalent network. Every atom is joined to its neighbours by covalent bonds, as in diamond.

As bond order goes up (single → double → triple), what happens?›

The bond gets shorter and stronger. More shared pairs pull the two nuclei closer and take more energy to break.

Water and methane have molecules of similar size, but water boils far higher. Why?›

Water molecules are polar, so they attract each other strongly. Polar molecules attract each other; nonpolar ones have only weak attractions.

What are ionic compounds made of?›

A repeating lattice of + and − ions. There is no "NaCl molecule": each Na⁺ is surrounded by Cl⁻ and each Cl⁻ by Na⁺.

Naming 27 cards
Prefixes 1 to 10?›

mono, di, tri, tetra, penta, hexa, hepta, octa, nona, deca.

Formulas: ammonium, hydroxide, nitrate, nitrite?›

NH₄⁺, OH⁻, NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻.

Formulas: carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, sulfite, phosphate?›

CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, SO₃²⁻, PO₄³⁻.

-ide, -ate or -ite?›

-ide: a single-element ion (chloride, oxide). -ate and -ite: polyatomic ions with oxygen; -ate has one more O than -ite.

The naming decision tree?›

Metal first? Ionic: no prefixes; Roman numeral if the metal has several charges; polyatomic ions keep their names. Two non-metals? Covalent: prefixes and -ide.

Which common metals need no Roman numeral?›

Groups 1 and 2, aluminium, zinc (2+) and silver (1+).

What is the name of N₂O₅?›

Dinitrogen pentoxide. Two non-metals: prefixes. The "a" of penta- is dropped before "oxide".

What is the name of CO?›

Carbon monoxide. No mono- on the first element, but the second always takes a prefix.

What is the name of MgCl₂?›

Magnesium chloride. Metal + non-metal: no prefixes. Mg only forms 2+, so no Roman numeral either.

What is the name of FeCl₃?›

Iron(III) chloride. Three Cl⁻ make 3−, so the iron is Fe³⁺. Iron has more than one charge, so the numeral is needed.

What is the name of CuO?›

Copper(II) oxide. O is 2−, so the single copper ion must be Cu²⁺.

What is the name of Cu₂O?›

Copper(I) oxide. O is 2−, shared by two copper ions, so each is Cu⁺.

What is the name of NaNO₃?›

Sodium nitrate. NO₃⁻ is the polyatomic ion nitrate. Use its own name.

What is the name of CaCO₃?›

Calcium carbonate. CO₃²⁻ is carbonate. Calcium only forms 2+, so no numeral.

What is the name of (NH₄)₂SO₄?›

Ammonium sulfate. Two polyatomic ions: ammonium NH₄⁺ and sulfate SO₄²⁻. No prefixes in ionic names.

What is the name of PCl₃?›

Phosphorus trichloride. Two non-metals: prefixes, with no mono- on the first element.

What is the name of SF₆?›

Sulfur hexafluoride. Two non-metals: hexa- for 6.

What is the formula of aluminium oxide?›

Al₂O₃. Al³⁺ and O²⁻: criss-cross the charge numbers to get Al₂O₃ (6+ and 6−).

What is the formula of calcium hydroxide?›

Ca(OH)₂. Ca²⁺ needs two OH⁻. Two of the same polyatomic ion go in parentheses.

What is the formula of iron(II) sulfate?›

FeSO₄. Fe²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ balance one to one.

What is the formula of dinitrogen tetroxide?›

N₂O₄. Read the prefixes as subscripts: di = 2, tetra = 4.

When do you use prefixes such as di- and tri- in a name?›

When both elements are non-metals (a covalent compound). Ionic names never use prefixes: the charges fix the ratio.

When does a name need a Roman numeral?›

When the metal can form more than one charge. Iron, copper and most transition metals. Not Na, Ca, Al, Zn or Ag.

What does the (III) in iron(III) oxide tell you?›

Each iron ion has a 3+ charge. The numeral is the charge of the metal ion. The formula is Fe₂O₃.

What is the name of the ion SO₃²⁻?›

Sulfite. -ite has one oxygen fewer than -ate: sulfate is SO₄²⁻. Sulfide is S²⁻.

What is the name of H₂S?›

Hydrogen sulfide. When hydrogen comes first it takes no prefix.

What is the formula of copper(II) nitrate?›

Cu(NO₃)₂. Cu²⁺ needs two NO₃⁻, in parentheses.

Designing materials 17 cards
How do you answer a "design a material" question?›

List the properties the job needs, pick the bond type that gives them, and name the trade-off.

Which material is best for the core of an electrical cable, and why?›

Copper: its free electrons carry current and it can be drawn into wire. Metallic bonding gives conduction in the solid and ductility.

Which material is best for the coating around an electrical wire?›

A plastic (molecular covalent): it insulates and bends. Molecular covalent materials have no free charges, so they insulate, and they are flexible.

Which material is best for lining a furnace?›

An ionic ceramic: very high melting point. Strong attraction between the ions means it survives very high temperatures.

Which material is best for the tip of a drill that cuts rock?›

Diamond (covalent network): the hardest. In a covalent network every atom is locked in by covalent bonds.

Why is an alloy usually harder than the pure metal?›

Atoms of a different size stop the layers sliding easily. Sliding layers are what make a pure metal soft. Disrupting them makes it harder and stronger.

What is brass made of?›

Copper and zinc. Brass = Cu + Zn. Bronze = Cu + Sn.

What is bronze made of?›

Copper and tin. Bronze = Cu + Sn. Brass = Cu + Zn.

Which element added to steel makes stainless steel resist rust?›

Chromium. Stainless steel is iron + carbon + chromium + nickel.

Why would an ionic ceramic make a bad hammer head?›

It is brittle and would shatter. Ionic materials are hard but brittle: fine for a tile, wrong for anything that takes impacts.

Why are frying-pan handles made of plastic or wood, not metal?›

They are poor conductors of heat. The metal body conducts heat to the food; the covalent handle keeps the heat from your hand.

You need a coating that water will not stick to. Which should you choose?›

A nonpolar covalent material. Water is polar. Nonpolar materials such as wax or nonstick coatings do not attract it.

An alloy is best described as…›

A homogeneous mixture of a metal with other elements. No new compound forms: the atoms are mixed, still held by metallic bonding.

You need a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in water. Which type?›

Ionic. Dissolving frees the ions, and moving ions carry the current.

Which property makes metals good for cooking pots?›

They conduct heat well. The free electrons carry heat as well as charge.

A watch face must be transparent, very hard and able to stand heat. Which type of material fits?›

Covalent network, such as quartz (SiO₂). Network solids are hard with very high melting points, and many are transparent.

What is the first step in choosing a material for a job?›

List the properties the job needs. Then match those properties to the bond type that gives them.

Molecular geometry 20 cards
The 6 shapes for 2 to 4 domains?›

Linear 180° · trigonal planar 120° · bent <120° · tetrahedral 109.5° · trigonal pyramidal ≈107° · bent ≈104.5°.

What counts as an electron domain?›

Each bonded atom (single, double or triple bond counts once) and each lone pair on the central atom.

Electron geometry vs molecular geometry?›

Electron geometry counts all domains. Molecular geometry names only where the atoms are.

How many electron domains are around C in CO₂?›

2. Two double bonds, and each counts as one domain.

What is the molecular geometry of CH₄?›

Tetrahedral. 4 bonded atoms and no lone pairs on C.

What is the molecular geometry of NH₃?›

Trigonal pyramidal. 4 domains: 3 atoms + 1 lone pair.

What is the molecular geometry of H₂O?›

Bent. 4 domains: 2 atoms + 2 lone pairs.

What is the molecular geometry of CO₂?›

Linear. 2 domains and no lone pairs on C.

What is the molecular geometry of BF₃?›

Trigonal planar. 3 domains and no lone pair on B.

What is the molecular geometry of SO₂?›

Bent. 3 domains: 2 atoms + 1 lone pair on S.

What is the bond angle in CH₄?›

109.5°. Four domains point to the corners of a tetrahedron.

What is the bond angle in H₂O?›

About 104.5°. Two lone pairs squeeze the angle below 109.5°.

What is the bond angle in BF₃?›

120°. Three domains spread evenly in a plane.

What is the ELECTRON geometry of NH₃?›

Tetrahedral. Electron geometry counts all 4 domains, lone pair included.

What is the ELECTRON geometry of H₂O?›

Tetrahedral. 2 bonded atoms + 2 lone pairs = 4 domains.

A central atom has 3 electron domains, one of them a lone pair. What is the shape?›

Bent, a little less than 120°. Only 2 atoms are attached, so the atoms form a bent shape.

Why is the bond angle in NH₃ (107°) smaller than in CH₄ (109.5°)?›

The lone pair repels more than a bonding pair. Lone pairs take more space and push the bonds closer together.

What does a solid wedge mean in a 3-D drawing?›

The bond comes out of the page, toward you. Plain = in the page, wedge = toward you, dash = away.

What is the molecular geometry of the nitrate ion, NO₃⁻?›

Trigonal planar. N has 3 bonded O atoms and no lone pair: 3 domains.

What is the molecular geometry of PCl₃?›

Trigonal pyramidal. 26 electrons: P has 3 bonds + 1 lone pair = 4 domains.

Molecular polarity 15 cards
The 3-question polarity test?›

1 Any polar bonds? If not, nonpolar. 2 Lone pair on the central atom? Polar. 3 All outer atoms identical? Nonpolar; if not, polar.

CO₂ has two polar C=O bonds. Why is the molecule nonpolar?›

It is linear, so the two equal dipoles cancel. Two equal arrows pointing in opposite directions add to zero.

Why is H₂O a polar molecule?›

It is bent, so the two O–H dipoles add instead of cancelling. The shape decides: the two arrows point partly the same way.

Is a C–H bond polar? (EN: C 2.5, H 2.1)›

No: ΔEN is 0.4. A bond with ΔEN below 0.5 counts as nonpolar.

In an O–H bond, which atom is δ−?›

O. O is more electronegative (3.5 vs 2.1), so it pulls the shared pair.

What is true of CCl₄?›

Its bonds are polar but the molecule is nonpolar. C–Cl is polar (ΔEN 0.5). Four equal dipoles in a tetrahedron cancel.

What is true of CH₄?›

Its bonds are nonpolar and the molecule is nonpolar. C–H has ΔEN 0.4: no polar bonds, so nothing to add up.

CF₂Cl₂ is tetrahedral. Is it polar?›

Yes: the outer atoms are not all the same. The C–F dipoles are stronger than the C–Cl dipoles, so they cannot cancel.

HCN is linear. Is it polar?›

Yes: the two ends are different. Linear cancels only when both outer atoms are the same, as in CO₂.

A bond dipole arrow points toward…›

The more electronegative atom. That is where the shared electrons are pulled: the δ− end.

A molecule has polar bonds and a lone pair on its central atom (bent or pyramidal). It is…›

Polar. The lone pair makes the shape unsymmetric, so the dipoles do not cancel.

BF₃ or NF₃: which one is polar?›

NF₃: it has a lone pair and is trigonal pyramidal. BF₃ is trigonal planar and symmetric, so its three dipoles cancel.

Is SO₂ polar?›

Yes: it is bent. S has a lone pair, so SO₂ is bent and its S–O dipoles add.

Which of these dissolves in water: NH₃ or CCl₄?›

NH₃, because it is polar like water. "Like dissolves like": polar dissolves in polar.

What decides whether a molecule with polar bonds is polar overall?›

Its shape: whether the bond dipoles cancel. Molecular polarity is the vector sum of the bond dipoles.

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