STRUCTURE & BONDING
Bonding
Monatomic
Covalent
(molecular)
Covalent
(network)
Ionic
Metallic
What the
structure is
like
Consist of
individual atoms
that are not joined
together. There
are only very weak
forces between
the atoms.
Consist of many
individual
molecules. Within
the molecules the
atoms are joined
by strong covalent
bonds. The
molecules are not
joined to each
other and there are
only very weak
forces between the
molecules.
A giant, continuous
structure in which
atoms are all
joined together by
strong covalent
bonds.
A giant lattice of
alternating positive
and negative ions.
There is a strong
attraction between
these + and – ions.
A giant lattice of
atoms. The outer
shell electrons
leave the atoms
and are free to
move throughout
the metal. There is
quite a strong
attraction between
the atoms and the
moving electrons.
e.g. Ar, He
just the symbol of
the atoms
e.g. CH4
gives the number
of atoms of each
type in the
molecule – here
there is one C
atom and four H
atoms in each
molecule
e.g. SiO2
gives the ratio of
atoms of each type
in the structure –
here there are
twice as many O
atoms in the lattice
than Si atoms
e.g. MgCl2
gives the ratio of
ions of each type
in the structure –
here there are
twice as many Cl–
ions in the lattice
as there are Mg2+
ions
e.g. Mg, Na
just the symbol of
the atoms
Noble gases
(Group 0)
H2, O2, N2,
Halogens, P, S
B, C, Si
non-metal/nonmetal compounds
(usually)
a few nonmetal/non-metal
compounds
What the
formula
means
Which
substances
metal elements
alloys
compounds of
metals and nonmetals
––++–
–+ +
+–
+++–––+
+–––+
++–––+
–
–
–+++–––+
+++–––+
+–
–+
–
–
+ ––++++–––++++––+
+
–
–
+
+
+
– + ––+ –– ––
+––+++––+++–+
O
Solid
O
O
O
Liquid
O
O
–+ –
– –+ +
+ + –
–
+ –+ + + +
– – –
O
O
O
Gas
–
+
O
–
+
O
O
–
Melting and
boiling points
Electrical
conductivity
Soluble in
water?
+
Low
Low
High
High
Varies
Never
Never
Never
Liquid (molten) and
aqueous only
Solid and liquid
Never
Infrequently
Never
Often
Never