Q1.

This question is about structure and bonding.

(a) Figure 1 shows part of the structure and bonding in diamond.

Figure 1

Explain why diamond has a high melting point.

Each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms in diamond. This
is because covalent bonds are strong. Therefore, diamonds have a high melting
point.
(3)

(b) Figure 2 shows part of the structure and bonding in sodium chloride (NaCl).

Figure 2

Explain the conditions needed for sodium chloride to conduct electricity.

Sodium chloride is made of positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged
chloride ions. Ions carry electric charges and therefore through their motion they
could conduct electricity. Therefore, NaCl can conduct electricity if its ions are free
to move.
(3)

(c) Figure 3 shows the structure of sodium.

Figure 3

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 Describe how sodium conducts thermal energy.

So as the electrons wander around, they carry energy from the hot end to the cold
end, which is another way of saying they conduct heat. Here, sodium is a metal
which possesses an extra (valence) electron carries the heat around its body as it is
a free electron, which enables sodium to conduct thermal energy.
(Total 9 marks)

(d) Carbon dioxide is a simple molecule. Explain why carbon will not conduct electricity and why it
is a gas at room temperature

Most of the carbon compounds do not conduct electricity because they have low melting
and boiling points. Nature of bonding in carbon compounds is different from that
observed in ionic compounds thus they are poor conductors of electricity.
(3)

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