Structure and bonding
What Structure and bonding means in Combined Science GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Structure and bonding
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Reference: AQA
Ionic compounds form giant lattices of alternating positive and negative ions held by strong electrostatic attraction, and in the solid state these ions vibrate about fixed positions.
A giant covalent structure in which each carbon atom is covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms, leaving one electron per atom delocalised within the layers.
Each carbon atom in graphite forms three covalent bonds to neighbouring carbon atoms in the same layer, using three of its four outer-shell electrons.
Small-molecule substances consist of discrete molecules with strong covalent bonds within each molecule.
Topics that use Structure and bonding
- Graphite (AQA GCSE)
- Properties of ionic compounds (AQA GCSE)
- Properties of small molecules (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Electrical conductivity
- Comparison of graphite and metals
- Covalent bonds
- Delocalised electrons
- Delocalised electrons and conductivity
- Electrical conduction by mobile charged particles
- Electrostatic forces of attraction
- Energy and changes of state
Using Structure and bonding in the exam
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