A2AS CHEM REVISED Support 20837

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FACTFILE:

GCE CHEMISTRY
STRUCTURE

Structure
Students should be able to: It has a 6,6 crystal arrangement, which means that
1.5.1 describe the following types of structure: six Na+ ions surround one Cl– ion and six Cl– ions
surround one Na+ ion. It has a cube shape. 

• the giant ionic lattice of sodium chloride;
• the metallic lattice of metals;
• t he giant covalent structures of graphite
and diamond;
• m
 olecular covalent structures, for example
iodine;

1.5.2  explain the characteristic physical properties


of these structures including melting and
boiling point, hardness (graphite and diamond
only) and electrical conductivity in terms of
structure and bonding;

1.5.3  explain the trend in melting point across the Ionic compounds such as sodium chloride have
Period sodium to argon, in terms of structure high melting and boiling points as large amounts of
and bonding; energy are needed to break the strong electrostatic
forces and separate the ions. When solid, ionic
compounds do not conduct electricity as the
ions are held in fixed positions and cannot move;
Structure however, when molten or dissolved in water the
There are four main type of structure. lattice breaks down and the ions can move and
carry charge. Therefore, ionic compounds can
1. Ionic lattices conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in
Ionic compounds form giant lattices which are water. Ionic compounds generally dissolve in water.
regular arrangements with each ion surrounded by
ions of opposite charge. The ions are held together
by electrostatic attraction. The structure of sodium
chloride is a giant ionic three dimensional lattice of
oppositely charged ions held by strong ionic bonds.

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / STRUCTURE

2. molecular covalent
These structures have strong covalent bonds in the
molecule but weak intermolecular forces between
the molecules.

Diatomic elements such as hydrogen, H2, oxygen,


O2 and the halogens have weak van der Waals’
forces between the molecules. In iodine the forces
are strong enough for it to exist as a solid at room
temperature.

4. Metallic lattice
Metals have giant metallic lattice structures
held together by strong electrostatic attractions
between positive ions and negative electrons.
Most metals have high melting and boiling points
as high temperatures and substantial energy is
needed to break the strong electrostatic attractions
between positive ions and negative electrons. The
Molecular covalent structures have low melting
delocalised electrons can move and carry charge so
and boiling points as low temperatures provide
metals conduct electricity.
enough energy to break the weak van der Waals’
forces between the molecules. They do not conduct
electricity as there are no free charged particles to Trends in melting point across
move and carry charge. Period 3
The effect of bonding and structure on the physical
3. Giant covalent.
properties of substances can be illustrated by
Giant covalent structures have thousands of atoms comparing the melting points of the Period three
bonded together in a lattice by strong covalent elements.
bonds. Carbon allotropes of graphite and diamond
have giant covlalent structures.

In diamond each carbon atom is covalently bonded


to four others in a tetrahedral 
arrangement. The
structure is a rigid three-dimensional lattice. 

Diamond is very hard due to the strong covalent
bonds and rigid tetrahedral 3d arrangement. It does
not conduct electricity, as there are no electrons
free to move and carry charge. It has a high melting
point and boiling point as much energy is needed
to break the many strong covalent bonds.

In graphite there are hexagonal layers of carbon The relatively high melting points of sodium,
atoms, each connected by covalent 
bonds. Between magnesium and aluminium, can be explained
the layers there are weak forces. Carbon atoms by the strong electrostatic attraction between
have four unpaired electrons and can form four the delocalised electrons and lattice of positive
covalent bonds. Each carbon is covalently bonded ions in each metallic structure. The increase
to three others, so there is one electron delocalised between sodium and aluminium is explained by
per carbon atom which is free to move between the the increasing number of electrons donated, per
layers and carry charge. Hence graphite conducts atom, to the delocalised sea of electrons; sodium
electricity. Like diamond it has a high melting point. donates one electron per atom, aluminium donates
Graphite is a lubricant as the layers can easily slide three electrons per atom. Hence the metallic bond
due to the weak forces between the layers. increases in strength and needs more energy to be
broken, and so a higher melting point.

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / STRUCTURE

Silicon has a very high melting point due to its


giant covalent structure; a lot of energy is needed
to break the strong covalent bonds throughout the
structure.

Phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine exist as molecular


covalent structures with weak van der Waals’ forces
between the molecules which require little energy
to break, resulting in low melting points. Sufur can
exist as S8 molecules, which have a larger number
of electrons than a P4 molecule so it has stronger
van der Waals’ forces between the molecules.
Argon exists as individual atoms with weak van der
Waals’ forces between them, which again results in
a low melting temperature.

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / STRUCTURE

Revision Questions

1 The melting point of the elements going across the Periodic Table from sodium to argon...

A increases steadily.
B decreases steadily.
C increases to silicon and then decreases.
D decreases to silicon and then increases.

2 a) Diamond and graphite have giant covalent structures.


(i) Explain what is meant by the term covalent.

[1]

(ii) Describe the structures of diamond and graphite.

Diamond:

[2]

Graphite:

[2]

(iii) Explain why graphite conducts electricity.

[2]

(iv) Explain why diamond is exceptionally hard.

[1]

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / STRUCTURE

3 Sodium is a reactive, soft, silvery metal. Chlorine is a poisonous gas. The two react together to
form sodium chloride that is essential to our diet.

a) (i) Using a labelled diagram explain the bonding in sodium metal.

[3]

(ii) M
 etals are good conductors of electricity. Explain why the electrical conductivity of
aluminium is greater than that of sodium.

[2]

b) What type of structure is present in the element chlorine?

[1]

c) (i) D
 raw dot and cross diagrams to show how sodium bonds with chlorine gas. Only
outer shell electrons should be shown.

[3]

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / STRUCTURE

(ii) Name the type of bonding in sodium chloride.

[1]

(iii) T he structure of sodium chloride is described as a lattice. Explain what is meant by


the term lattice.

[2]

(iv) Apart from its appearance give three physical properties of sodium chloride.

[3]

4 A crystalline solid melts sharply at 95oC. It does not conduct electricity in the solid and liquid
states. It dissolves in hexane. What type of structure does the solid have?

A giant molecular
B ionic
C metallic
D molecular covalent

5 Which one of the following solids consists of molecular covalent crystals?

A diamond
B graphite
C ice
D quartz

© CCEA 2016 6

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