AQA GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science

Topic Questions

2.1 Ionic, Covalent & Metallic Bond

1a1 mark

This question is about lithium and chlorine.

Which group of the periodic table is chlorine in?

1b4 marks

Lithium reacts with chlorine to produce lithium chloride.

lithium      +      chlorine          lithium chloride

The diagram in Figure 1 shows how the reaction happens.

Only the outer electrons are shown.

Figure 1 

MzXj7JO2_lithium-chloride-electron-transfer

Use the words in the boxes to complete the sentences:

gaining sharing positive Group 1 negative 
covalent losing Group 0   electrostatic neutral 


A lithium atom becomes an ion by ____________________  one electron. 

A lithium ion has a _____________________ charge. 

The lithium ion now has the electronic structure of a _____________________ element.

The ions in lithium chloride are held together by strong ____________________ forces.

1c2 marks

Why do lithium and chlorine react in this way?

1d1 mark

A chlorine atom has 17 electrons.

What is the electronic configuration of the chloride ion formed?

Tick (one box.

 2    2,8   2,8,8  

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2a1 mark

This question is about the structure and bonding in methane. 

A molecule of methane is shown in Figure 1. 

Figure 1 

GqxcNKPk_methane

Give the formula of this methane molecule. 

2b1 mark

What type of bonding is found in methane? 

Tick (one box. 

 Ionic    Covalent   Metallic  
2c2 marks

The bonding in methane can be shown using a dot and cross diagram. 

Carbon has four electrons in its outer shell, and hydrogen has one. 

Complete the dot and cross diagram for methane.

methane-dot-and-cross-diagram
2d2 marks

Give two limitations of using a dot and cross diagram to represent covalent compounds.

Tick two boxes.

 They are 3D  
 They do not show the relative sizes of the atoms  
 They are 2D  
 They show the electrons between atoms  

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3a4 marks

This question is about bonding and structure in different substances. 

Draw one line from each substance to the type of bonding it has. 

bonding-match-up-
3b1 mark

The structure of copper is shown in Figure 1. 

Which particle is represented by 'X'?

Figure 1 
metallic-structure
3c2 marks

When magnesium reacts with chlorine to form magnesium chloride, magnesium forms the ion Mg2+.

Explain how. 

3d2 marks

Which two substances from part a) have intermolecular forces between particles?

3e1 mark

Complete the dot and cross diagram to show how electrons are shared in water.

Some of them have been done for you. 

water-dot-and-cross-diagram

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4a4 marks

Potassium can be reacted with bromine to produce potassium bromide.

            potassium     +     bromine     →     potassium bromide

The diagram in Figure 1 shows how this happens.

Only the outer electrons are shown.

The dots (●) and crosses (×) are used to represent electrons.

Figure 1

potassium-brominde-bonding

Using the diagram in Figure 1, describe what happens when potassium and bromine react to form potassium bromide.

4b1 mark

What is the empirical formula of potassium bromide?

Use Figure 1 to help you.

 KBr    K2Br   KBr2  
4c3 marks

An atom of potassium is represented as straight K presubscript 19 presuperscript 39.

Give the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in this atom of iron.

   Number of protons    _______________________

   Number of neutrons  _______________________

   Number of electrons  _______________________

4d2 marks

Potassium is a metal located in Group 1 of the periodic table. 

Which two statements are correct about potassium?

Tick () two boxes. 

 It has a giant structure   
 It has strong covalent bonds   
 It has free moving ions   
 It has delocalised electrons  

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1a4 marks

This question is about sodium oxide.

Describe the structure and bonding in sodium oxide. 

1b1 mark

Sodium is in Group 1 of the periodic table and oxygen in Group 6. 

What is the formula of sodium oxide?

1c3 marks

Draw dot and cross diagrams to represent the three ions formed by sodium oxide. 

1d4 marks

Figure 1 shows two other way of representing ionic compounds.
aqa-gcse-2-1h-tq-1d-ionic-compound-models

Compare the advantages and limitations of each model.

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2a3 marks

This question is about chemical bonds.

Aluminium and chlorine react to form aluminium chloride. 

Write the balanced symbol equation for the reaction.

Include state symbols.

2b3 marks

Describe, in terms of electron arrangement, the type of bonding in a molecule of chlorine.

2c5 marks

Describe, in terms of electron arrangement, the type of bonding in the compound aluminium chloride.

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3a1 mark

This question is about covalent bonding.

What is a covalent bond?

3b1 mark

Complete the dot and cross diagram to show the bonding in propane. 

aqa-gcse-2-1h-tq-3b-propane-dot-and-cross-diagram

3c2 marks

Explain why propane cannot conduct electricity.

3d2 marks

Give two limitations of the dot and cross diagram in part (b).

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4a5 marks

This question is about the properties of metals. 

Copper is a typical metal.

Explain how the particles in copper are held together and why the metal is malleable.

You may use a diagram in your answer. 

4b4 marks

Metals are good conductors of electricity.

Electrical conductivity increases across Period 3, from sodium to aluminium.

Explain why. 

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5a2 marks

This question is about structure and bonding.

Complete the dot and cross diagram to show the covalent bonding in an oxygen molecule, O2.

Show only the electrons in the outer shell.

aqa-gcse-2-1h-tq-5a-oxygen-dot-and-cross-diagram

5b4 marks

Oxygen can react with magnesium to form magnesium oxide.

Describe the differences in the bonding and structure of magnesium oxide and oxygen. 

5c3 marks

The melting points of magnesium oxide and sodium chloride are shown in Table 1. 

Table 1 

Substance Melting point (oC)
 Sodium chloride 801
 Magnesium oxide 2852


Explain why magnesium oxide has a higher melting point than sodium chloride.

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1a1 mark

The arrangement of electrons in a sodium atom can be written as 2, 8, 1 which represents the atom's electronic structure.

Write the electronic structure for an atom of potassium.

1b2 marks

The electronic structure of a sodium atom can also be shown using an electron shell diagram as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 

tgnYWZQT_sodium-electron-configuration-aqa-sq-21-m-1b

Repeat the drawing for a chlorine atom to show its electronic structure.

1c3 marks

Draw a similar diagram to show the electronic structure of the particles in sodium chloride, indicating how the compound was formed.

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2a2 marks

The ionic lattice structure of sodium chloride is shown in the diagram.

ionic-lattice

Complete the table. 

Name of ion Charge
   
   
2b3 marks

Using the diagram in (a) to help you, describe the nature of the chemical bonding in ionic structures.

2c2 marks

Suggest two assumptions that the diagram in part (a) makes.

2d1 mark

Calcium metal combusts in oxygen and produces calcium oxide, CaO.

Balance the equation for the reaction. 

___Ca(s) + ___O2(g) → ___CaO(s)

2e2 marks

Describe what happens when a calcium atom becomes ionised.

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3a1 mark

Magnesium iodide is an ionic compound containing magnesium ions (Mg2+ ) and iodide ions (I).

State the chemical formula of magnesium iodide.

3b5 marks

Describe, in terms of electrons and bonding, the reaction between magnesium and iodine.

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4a4 marks

This question is about covalent bonding.

Write down four differences between ionic compounds and simple covalent compounds.

4b5 marks

Describe the bonding in a molecule of ammonia, NH3.

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5a2 marks

Iodine and bromine are both halogens. The bonding in iodine is similar to the bonding in chlorine.

Suggest two reasons why they bond in similar ways.

5b2 marks

Complete the diagram below to show the bonding arrangement in a molecule of iodine.

Show the outer shell electrons only.

iodine-electron-configuration-blank

5c2 marks

Explain why liquid iodine is unable to conduct electricity.

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6a4 marks

Zinc is a typical metal.

Describe the structure and bonding in zinc.

6b1 mark

Explain how zinc is able to conduct electricity?

6c2 marks

The surface of some metals, such as iron and copper, corrode when exposed to the air which reduces their electrical conductivity. 

Suggest why their conductivity is reduced.

6d2 marks

Magnesium ribbon is used in many school laboratories for carrying out reactions involving metals and acids. It can be cut and folded easily. 

Explain why metals can be bent and shaped.

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