Bonding and Structure is a core area of A-level Chemistry physical chemistry. It focuses on how particles are held together, how molecular and lattice structures are arranged, and how these ideas explain physical properties such as melting point, boiling point, conductivity, and solubility.
Students study ionic bonding as the electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions. They learn to draw dot-and-cross diagrams, predict ionic charges, write ionic formulas, and explain giant ionic lattice structures.
This includes single, double, triple, and dative covalent bonds. Students explain covalent bonding in terms of shared electron pairs and electrostatic attraction between nuclei and bonding electrons.
Learners study metallic bonding as the attraction between positive metal ions and delocalised electrons, and use this model to explain properties such as conductivity.
Students use electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory to predict and explain molecular shapes and bond angles, including the effect of lone pairs.
The course covers electronegativity, polar bonds, permanent dipoles, and why some molecules with polar bonds may still be non-polar overall because of their shape.
Students learn about London forces, permanent dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding, and how these affect melting point and boiling point.
Learners compare giant ionic, giant metallic, giant covalent, and simple molecular structures, linking them to conductivity, solubility, and thermal properties.
2.2.2 Bonding and structure, focusing on ionic and covalent bonding, polarity, shapes, hydrogen bonding, and simple molecular lattices.Topic 2A: Bonding and Topic 2B: Structure, including giant lattices and carbon allotropes such as diamond, graphite, and graphene.