18 flashcards · Shared on 19 August 2026 by AtomAI Library
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What is an ionic bond?
The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
What is an ionic bond?
The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
How is an ionic compound usually formed from a metal and a non-metal?
Electrons are transferred from the metal to the non-metal
Which description best defines a covalent bond?
The electrostatic attraction between two nuclei and a shared pair of electrons
What holds a metallic structure together?
Attraction between positive metal ions and delocalized electrons
Why do ionic compounds generally have high melting points?
Strong electrostatic attractions act throughout the giant lattice
Why does solid sodium chloride not conduct electricity?
Its ions are fixed in position and cannot carry charge through the solid
Under which condition can an ionic compound conduct electricity?
When molten or dissolved in water, because its ions can move
Why do many simple molecular substances have low melting and boiling points?
Only weak intermolecular forces need to be overcome
What usually happens to the covalent bonds within simple molecules when the substance melts?
They generally remain intact while intermolecular forces are overcome
Which feature explains the hardness of diamond?
Each carbon atom is strongly covalently bonded in a rigid three-dimensional network
Why can graphite conduct electricity?
Each carbon atom contributes an electron that is delocalized within a layer
Why do metals conduct electricity in both solid and molten states?
Delocalized electrons can move through the structure
What makes many pure metals malleable?
Layers of metal ions can slide while attraction to delocalized electrons is maintained
Why are alloys often harder than pure metals?
Different-sized atoms disrupt the regular layers and hinder them from sliding
What is the correct formula for magnesium chloride, given Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻ ions?
MgCl2
A sodium atom forms a sodium ion during ionic bonding. What happens?
It loses one electron to form Na⁺
What causes a covalent bond to be polar?
The bonded atoms attract the shared electrons by different amounts
Why does silicon dioxide have a high melting point?
It has a giant covalent structure containing many strong covalent bonds