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Ionic and Covalent Bonds: Flashcards

Revise ionic and covalent bonding, electronegativity difference, polar bonds and properties.

10 cardsBeginner

10 cards

  1. Question
    What is an ionic bond?
    Answer

    The attraction between oppositely charged ions, formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another.

  2. Question
    What is a covalent bond?
    Answer

    A shared pair of electrons between two atoms.

  3. Question
    What is electronegativity?
    Answer

    How strongly an atom attracts the shared electrons in a bond.

  4. Question
    What is a polar covalent bond?
    Answer

    A covalent bond in which the electrons are shared unequally, giving partial charges δ+ and δ−.

  5. Question
    Roughly which ΔEN values give nonpolar, polar covalent and ionic bonds?
    Answer

    Below about 0.4: nonpolar; about 0.4 to 1.8: polar covalent; above about 1.8: ionic (cut-offs vary).

  6. Question
    Write the formula of the compound of MgX2+\ce{Mg^2+} and NX3−\ce{N^3-}.
    Answer

    MgX3NX2\ce{Mg3N2} (3 × +2 = +6; 2 × −3 = −6)

  7. Question
    Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?
    Answer

    Many strong attractions between oppositely charged ions in the lattice must be overcome.

  8. Question
    When do ionic compounds conduct electricity?
    Answer

    When molten or dissolved in water, because the ions are then free to move.

  9. Question
    Which is shorter and stronger: a C–C single bond or a C≡C triple bond?
    Answer

    The triple bond: more shared pairs make bonds shorter and stronger.

  10. Question
    In an O–H bond, which atom carries the partial negative charge?
    Answer

    Oxygen, because it is more electronegative (3.44 vs 2.20).