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ChemistryAQA (7405) / Edexcel (9CH0)Bonding

Bonding & Structure Interactive Guide

AQA / Edexcel A-Level Chemistry

Bonding and structure underpins the entire A-Level Chemistry course. This interactive guide covers ionic bonding (electrostatic attraction, lattice structures), covalent bonding (shared pairs, dot-and-cross diagrams, dative bonds), metallic bonding (delocalised electrons), and intermolecular forces (London forces, permanent dipole, hydrogen bonding). Explore how the type of bonding determines physical properties — melting point, electrical conductivity, and solubility — using interactive comparisons between molecular, giant covalent, ionic, and metallic structures.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ionic and covalent bonding?+
Ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, forming oppositely charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction. Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electron pairs between non-metal atoms. Ionic compounds form giant lattices; covalent compounds form simple molecules or giant covalent structures.
Why does diamond have a very high melting point?+
Diamond is a giant covalent structure where each carbon atom forms four strong covalent bonds in a tetrahedral arrangement. Breaking these bonds requires a very large amount of energy, which is why diamond has an extremely high melting point (over 3,500 degrees C).

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