What is intermolecular bonding?
Understanding the different types of intermolecular bond is usually straight forward. Describing them in writing is not 😳. All intermolecular
Category: Fundamentals
Electronegativity and polar bonds
Electronegativity is the power of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons toward itself – we are typically talking
Giant covalent (macromolecular) networks and simple molecules
More good news! The properties of diamond and graphite and silicon dioxide have’t changed! On a more serious note though,
Continue readingGiant covalent (macromolecular) networks and simple molecules
Molecular orbital theory
This is the second modern theory of bonding, the first being valence bond theory. In molecular orbital theory covalent bonds
Using valence bond theory to explain sigma and pi bonds
Our familiar model of covalent bonding is largely based on the Lewis model, with atoms sharing pairs of bonding electrons
Continue readingUsing valence bond theory to explain sigma and pi bonds
Covalent bonding
Once again, showing how covalent bonds are formed using dot and cross diagrams is simpler at A level than at
Metallic bonding and properties of metals
Metal atoms find it fairly easy (in terms of energy) to lose their outer-shell or valence electrons. They have a
How to write an ionic equation
An ionic equation describes the actual chemical reaction that occurs when we add drops of aqueous sodium chloride to a
Ionic bonding and ionic lattices
Ionic bonding is the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions – it is not the transfer of electrons from one
How to calculate the relative abundance of an isotope
We can calculate the percentage abundances for each of the isotopes in an element if we know the mass number
Continue readingHow to calculate the relative abundance of an isotope