HOME PAGE * SEARCH * KS3 Basic Science Quizzes for students aged ~13-14

GCSE level BiologyChemistryPhysics age ~14-16 * Advanced pre-university Chemistry ~16-18

1g. Can we deduce the type of chemical bonding and structure from physical data?

Is it an ionic compound, a covalent element/compound, a giant structure or giant metallic lattice?

An exam practise question with answers - though best done after working through Parts 2 to 5!

[Author © Dr Phil Brown PhD: Doc Brown's chemistry exam revision notes on chemical bonding & structure suitable for students of UK IGCSE & GCSE level chemistry courses & ~ US grades 9-10 chemistry, also useful for advanced level courses e.g. UK A level and US grades 11-12 chemistry courses [page updated April 9th 2026 *]

All my GCSE level chemistry revision notes

All my advanced level chemistry revision notes

All my structure and bonding notes

Part 1 index Introduction to chemical bonding index

[email doc b with any query ]  *  [privacy policy, cookies, disclaimer]  *  ]SEARCH science website]

Foundation tier (easier) m/c QUIZ on structure, properties & chemical bonding of materials

Higher tier (harder) m/c QUIZ on structure, properties and chemical bonding of materials


Can we deduce the likely chemical bonding in a material from its physical and chemical properties?

The answer quite simply is YES (in most cases!), as long as you have studied parts 2 to 5 before attempting this question!

The table below describes the properties of ? compounds. The data is not specific to a substance, just 'typical properties'

Can you work out the bonding and structure of the substances A to F?

Solubility can be a bit subtle, so take care!

 Answers near the bottom of the page!

Substance Melting Point Boiling Point density (g/cm3) electrical conduction in solid electrical conduction when liquid solubility and electrical conduction in water Solubility in organic solvents like hexane
A 900oC 1720oC 1.5 none good soluble, good insoluble
B 1200oC 2000oC 7.5 good good insoluble insoluble
C 65oC 260oC 1.2 none none insoluble soluble
D 1100oC 2500oC 3.7 none none insoluble insoluble
E –120oC –65oC very small none none soluble, good soluble
F decomposes at high temperature decomposes at high temperature 1.2 moderate decomposes insoluble insoluble
               

What next?

Recommend next: Quizzes - after working trough Parts 2 to 5

Foundation tier (easier) Quiz on Structure, Properties & Chemical Bonding

Higher tier (harder) Quiz on Structure, Properties and Chemical Bonding

Word-fill quiz "Metal Structure and Ionic Compounds"

Word-fill quiz "The Structure and Uses of different forms of carbon"

Word-fill quiz "Simple Covalent Molecular Substances"

Word-fill quiz "Molecular modelling and bonding diagrams of covalent molecules"

Sub-index for: Part 1 Introduction to chemical bonding - why? how? and patterns

Index for ALL chemical bonding and structure notes

[SEARCH BOX]

Website content © Dr Phil Brown 2000+. All copyrights reserved on revision notes, images, quizzes, worksheets etc. Copying of website material is NOT permitted. Exam revision summaries & references to science course specifications are unofficial.

Answers to the 'type of bonding' question

A is an ionic structure and bonding, giant ionic lattice, high melting/boiling point, only conducts when molten, the solubility and electrical conduction in water is extra evidence, but isn't definitive for substance A (see E).

Typical examples would be salts like sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate

B is a giant metallic lattice structure and metal bonds, high melting/boiling points, high density, conducts in solid, not just liquid.

Typical examples would be iron and copper.

C simple molecular structure, small molecules with covalent bonds, low melting/boiling point, no electrical conduction at all (no ions).

Typical examples would organic compounds like waxes which dissolve in organic solvents like hexane or propanone ('acetone').

D giant covalent lattice, very high melting/boiling, no electrical conduction, won't dissolve in anything.

Typical examples are carbon (diamond), silicon, silicon dioxide (silica) and many other minerals found in rocks.

I've made A to D quite straightforward (as long as Bonding Parts 2 to 5 have been studied), but I've

E simple molecular structure, small molecules with covalent bonds, low melting/boiling point, no electrical conduction when molten, however it does conduct when dissolved in water, so ions must be formed to conduct electricity. The latter is a 'red herring', if it had an ionic structure the melting/boiling points would be much higher and the liquid would have conducted.

Examples are the gases hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide and hydrogen.

These are all simple molecular substances, diatomic covalent molecules HF, HCl, HBr, HI), BUT they dissolve in water to form acids solutions containing the hydrogen ion (H+) and the corresponding halide ion (F, Cl, Br, I), hence the reason why the aqueous solution conducts electricity. Small covalent molecules often dissolve in organic solvents.

F Probably a thermally very stable giant covalent structure, but with weakly electrical conducting properties (even in the solid) due to delocalised electrons, completely insoluble. Its unlikely to be an ionic structure because it conducts in the solid. Metals do not decompose on heating to a high temperature and all metals will boil.

Examples might be carbon (graphite) and nanomaterials derived from carbon

Website content © Dr Phil Brown 2000+. All copyrights reserved on revision notes, images, quizzes, worksheets etc. Copying of website material is NOT permitted. Exam revision summaries & references to science course specifications are unofficial. Explaining importance of exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties in GCSE level & A level chemistry, What you need to know about exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties for GCSE level & A level chemistry, Explaining use of exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties knowledge in GCSE level & A level chemistry, Examples of exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties explained when studying GCSE level & A level chemistry, What is the significance of exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties in GCSE level & A level chemistry, describing explaining theory of exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties when studying GCSE level & A level chemistry, exam revision notes for exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties, online help for understanding exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties in GCSE chemistry, what do I need to learn about exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties? what do I need to know about exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties for GCSE chemistry exams, how to prepare for questions on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties in GCSE chemistry examination? exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties for syllabus-specifications for students taking the IGCSE/GCSE level & A level chemistry examinations, summary revision notes key points on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties for students studying AQA igcse/gcse/A level chemistry notes on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties, Edexcel gcse/A level chemistry notes on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties,  OCR 21st century GCSE/A level chemistry notes on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties, OCR gateway GCSE/A level chemistry notes on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties, WJEC gcse/A level chemistry notes on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties, CCEA gcse/A level chemistry notes on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties, CIE Cambridge igcse/A level chemistry, IB advanced level chemistry notes on exam practice question deducing the type of chemical bonding & structure of a substance from its physical properties useful for US grade 9, 10, 11 & 12 chemistry & AP honors chemistry courses

TOP OF PAGE