AP Chemistry : Ionic Bonds
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Chemistry
All AP Chemistry Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Ionic Bonds
What type(s) of bond(s) is/are present in the following molecule?
RbCl
covalent
network covalent
complex ionic
network ionic
ionic
ionic
An ionic bond is a bond between a metal (Rb) and a nonmetal(Cl)
Example Question #51 : Compounds And Molecules
What type of compound is 
Metallic
Covalent
Polyatomic ion
Ionic
Ionic
Ionic compounds are formed between metals, which want to loose electrons, and nonmetals, which want to gain electrons. The sodium (Na) will completely transfer an electron to the chlorine (Cl), giving both atoms a complete octet without sharing electrons.
Covalent compounds generally form between two nonmetals that will both share electrons to complete their octets. Metallic compounds are built from only metals. Polyatomic ions will have a formal charge.
Example Question #1 : Ionic Bonds
Which of the following compounds is not held together by ionic bonds?
Covalent bonds are formed when two nonmetals are bonded together. This covalent bond means that the electrons are shared by the two atoms in order to satisfy each atom's octet. There is very little difference in the electronegativities of the two atoms involved in the bond, so neither atom pulls the electrons closer to its nucleus.
Ionic bonds are formed between a metal and a nonmetal. Due to the dramatic difference between the electronegativities of metals and nonmetals, the electrons are pulled tightly to the nonmetal, and away from the metal nucleus. This results in each atom having a full octet, even though the electrons are not shared.
Carbon and oxygen are both nonmetals, so we would expect only covalent bonds in carbon dioxide.
Example Question #1 : Ionic Bonds
Which of the following is not a characteristic of ionic compounds?
Good conductors of electricity in the aqueous state
High melting point
High boiling point
Comprised of atoms sharing electrons
Comprised of atoms sharing electrons
Atoms share electrons in covalent bonds, not ionic. In ionic bonding, one or more electrons from an atom with a lower ionization energy are transferred to an atom with greater electron affinity.
Example Question #41 : Bonding And Forces
Which of the following statements best describes ionic compounds?
3-D arrays of charged particles
Formed when molecules share electrons
Neutral particles that donate electrons
Malleable compounds that lack structural stability
3-D arrays of charged particles
The definition of ionic compounds are three-dimensional arrays of atoms held together by strong ionic bonds. Ions are charged particles that have either gained or lost a certain number of electrons. They have great crystalline strength because of the strong electrostatic forces between the ions.
All AP Chemistry Resources
