Topic 4:

States of Matter
4.2 Bonding and structure
Objective
¶ describe, in simple terms, the lattice structure of a crystalline solid which is:
- ionic, as in sodium chloride, magnesium oxide

Ionic lattices

¶ Ionic lattices have a three-dimensional arrangement of alternating positive and negative

ions. Compounds with ionic lattices are sometimes called giant ionic structure.

Properties of ionic compounds

1) Hard
¶ It takes a lot of energy to scratch the surface because of the strong attractive forces
keeping the ions together.

2) Brittle
¶ Ionic crystals may split apart when hit in the same direction as the layers of ions.
¶ The layers of ions may be displaced by the force of the blow so that the ions with the
same charge come together.
¶ The repulsion between thousands of ions in the layers, all with the same charge, cause
the crystal to split along these cleavage planes.

3) High melting and boiling points

 Because the attraction between the large numbers of oppositely charged ions in the
lattice acts in all directions and bonds them strongly together.

4) Soluble in water
 When an ionic solid dissolves in water, bonds ae formed between water molecules and
the ions.

5) Conduct electricity when molten or in solution.

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 When molten or in solution, the ions are mobile.

Objective
¶ describe, in simple terms, the lattice structure of a crystalline solid which is:
- metallic, as in copper

¶ A metallic lattice consists of ions surrounded by a sea of electrons. The ions are often
packed in hexagonal layers or in a cubic arrangement.

¶ When a force is applied, the layers can slide over each other. But in a metallic bond, the
attractive forces between the metal ions and the delocalised electrons act in all

directions.
Alloys and their properties
¶ An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals or a metal with a non-metal. The metal
added to create the alloy becomes part of the crystal lattice of the other metal. Example:
Brass is an alloy of copper (70%) with zinc (30%).

¶ The layers of ions in an alloy slide less easily than in a pure metal because the structure
of the lattice is less regular.

Question 1
Explain the following:
a) why are most metals strong, but ionic solids are brittle?
b) why is an alloy of copper and tin stronger than either copper or tin alone?

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 Objective
¶ describe, in simple terms, the lattice structure of a crystalline solid which is:
- simple molecular, as in iodine and the fullerene allotropes of carbon (C60 and
nanotubes only)
- giant molecular, as in silicon(IV) oxide and the graphite, diamond and graphene
allotropes of carbon
- hydrogen-bonded, as in ice
Simple molecular lattices

Question 2
The table shows some properties of four elements. Use the data to answer the following
questions. (Assume that steel has similar properties to iron.)

a) Why is aluminium with a steel core used for overhead electricity cables in preference
to copper?
b) Suggest why many car engine blocks are made from aluminium alloys rather than
from steel.
c) Explain the differences in tensile strength and electrical conductivity of iron and
sulphur.

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Silicon (IV) oxide

Question 3
Explain the following properties of silicon (IV) oxide by referring to its structure and
bonding.
a) It has a high melting point.
b) It does not conduct electricity.
c) It is a crystalline solid.
d) It is hard.

Question 4
Complete the table below to compare the properties of giant metallic and simple molecular
structures.

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Carbon nanoparticles
¶ Graphite and diamond are not the only allotropes of carbon. In recent years, substances
called fullerenes have been made.

¶ The structure of many fullerenes is based on rings of carbon atoms, as is the structure of
graphite. But many fullerenes exhibit properties unlike those of graphite.

¶ The individual particles in fullerenes may have one of their dimensions between 0.1 and
100 nanometers (1 nanometre = 10-9 m). Particles of this size are called nanoparticles.

¶ Another form of carbon, graphene, can be regarded as a single layer of graphite.

Fullerenes

Nanotubes Graphene

Question 5
Suggest, using ideas of structure and
bonding, why?
a) buckminsterfullerene, C60, is converted
from a solid to a gas at a relatively low
temperature.
b) graphene is a good conductor of
electricity.

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c) nanotubes conduct electricity better along the long axis of the tube than across the tube.
d) buckminsterfullerene, C60, is relatively soft.

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