Chemical Bonding: Ionic and Covalent Worksheet

Question 1

Explain how an ionic bond forms between atoms.

Accepted Answer

An ionic bond forms when one atom transfers one or more electrons to another atom. This creates a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion, and the opposite charges attract each other.

Question 2

Explain how a covalent bond forms between atoms.

Accepted Answer

A covalent bond forms when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. The shared electrons help each atom fill its outer energy level and become more stable.

Question 3

Classify the bond in sodium chloride, NaCl, as ionic or covalent and explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The bond in sodium chloride is ionic because sodium is a metal and chlorine is a nonmetal. Sodium transfers an electron to chlorine, forming ions that attract each other.

Question 4

Classify the bond in water, H2O, as ionic or covalent and explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The bonds in water are covalent because hydrogen and oxygen are both nonmetals. They share electrons rather than transfer them.

Question 5

Magnesium reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide, MgO. Describe what happens to the electrons during bond formation.

Accepted Answer

Magnesium loses two electrons and becomes a 2+ ion. Oxygen gains those two electrons and becomes a 2- ion, so an ionic bond forms between them.

Question 6

Why do ionic compounds usually have high melting points?

Accepted Answer

Ionic compounds usually have high melting points because the electrostatic attractions between the positive and negative ions are strong. A large amount of energy is needed to separate the ions.

Question 7

Why do many covalent compounds have lower melting and boiling points than ionic compounds?

Accepted Answer

Many covalent compounds have lower melting and boiling points because the forces between separate molecules are often weaker than the strong attractions in an ionic crystal lattice. Less energy is needed to separate the particles.

Question 8

A compound conducts electricity when dissolved in water but not as a solid. Is it more likely ionic or covalent? Explain.

Accepted Answer

It is more likely ionic because ionic compounds can conduct electricity when dissolved in water since their ions are free to move. In the solid state, the ions are fixed in place and cannot carry charge easily.

Question 9

Carbon dioxide, CO2, is made of carbon and oxygen. Is this compound ionic or covalent? Explain how you know.

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide is covalent because carbon and oxygen are both nonmetals. Nonmetals usually bond by sharing electrons.

Question 10

Compare the structure of an ionic compound with the structure of a molecular covalent compound.

Accepted Answer

An ionic compound is usually made of a repeating crystal lattice of positive and negative ions. A molecular covalent compound is made of separate molecules in which atoms are joined by shared electrons.

Question 11

Predict whether potassium bromide, KBr, is likely to be brittle or flexible as a solid. Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

Potassium bromide is likely to be brittle as a solid because it is an ionic compound. When layers of ions shift, ions with the same charge can line up and repel each other, causing the crystal to crack.

Question 12

Write one major difference and one similarity between ionic and covalent bonding.

Accepted Answer

One major difference is that ionic bonding involves electron transfer, while covalent bonding involves electron sharing. One similarity is that both types of bonding help atoms become more stable by filling their outer energy levels.

Chemical Bonding: Ionic and Covalent

Chemical Bonding: Ionic and Covalent

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