GCSE · Chemistry · AQA · Spec 8462

Chemical bonds (ionic, covalent, metallic)

The same electrons can be transferred, shared in pairs, or shared across a whole metal structure.

What you need to know

  • The three strong chemical bonds are ionic, covalent and metallic.
  • Ionic bonding involves oppositely charged ions and occurs in compounds formed from metals combined with non-metals.
  • Covalent bonding involves atoms sharing pairs of electrons and occurs in most non-metallic elements and compounds of non-metals.
  • Metallic bonding occurs in metallic elements and alloys, where delocalised outer-shell electrons are shared through a giant regular structure.

The big picture

There are three types of strong chemical bond: ionic, covalent and metallic. Ionic bonding occurs in compounds formed from metals combined with non-metals, while covalent bonding occurs in most non-metallic elements and in compounds of non-metals. Metallic bonding occurs in metallic elements and alloys. The three types differ in the particles involved and in how electrons are transferred or shared, while metallic structures contain delocalised outer-shell electrons that are free to move through the whole giant structure.

TONIGHT'S REVISION

Chemical bonds: ionic, covalent and metallic

Three strong bonds, distinguished by the particles involved and what happens to the electrons.

Chemistry · Bonding

Three ways to bond

Switch between the bond types and focus on what happens to the electrons.

NaSodium · 2,8,1ClChlorine · 2,8,7→ Cltransfer 1 electronNa⁺Cl⁻
Metal (Na)Non-metal (Cl)Active electron

Ionic bonding

Sodium chloride · NaCl

Bond formed by

Electron transfer

Structure

Giant ionic lattice

Melting point

High (801 °C)

Conducts?

Only when molten or dissolved

Electrons are transferred and the particles involved in the bonding are oppositely charged ions.

Watch out: Sharing a pair of electrons is covalent; sharing delocalised electrons through a whole metal structure is metallic.

Relationship matrix

Tap any cell to reveal it. Tap a column header to read one property down every item.

Where it occursParticles involvedElectron picture
Ionic bondingmetal + non-metal
Covalent bondingnon-metals
Metallic bondingmetals and alloys

Each cell hides a short answer and the reason behind it. Predict before you tap.

Build the metallic picture

Follow how the structure and electrons fit together.

Recognise the bonding

Use the diagram clues rather than guessing from a name.

A diagram shows atoms in a giant regular pattern with delocalised electrons free to move throughout. What bonding is it showing?

Bonding language

Retrieve the distinction before turning each card.

Key points

1Ionic: metal + non-metal, with oppositely charged ions.
2Covalent: non-metal atoms share pairs of electrons.
3Metallic: metallic elements and alloys share delocalised electrons.
4Chemical bonding can be explained using electrostatic forces and electron transfer or sharing.
5Metals have giant regular structures with delocalised electrons free to move through the whole structure.

Worked example

Problem

A bonding diagram shows a giant regular structure with delocalised electrons free to move throughout it. What type of bonding is shown?

🧠

Memory hook

Transfer, pair-share, whole-structure share: ionic transfers; covalent shares pairs; metallic shares delocalised electrons.

⚠ Watch out

Do not call every kind of electron sharing covalent: metallic bonding uses delocalised electrons shared through the whole structure.

✓

Check yourself

How would you distinguish ionic, covalent and metallic bonding by the particles and electrons involved?

Flashcards

(9)
What are the three types of strong chemical bond?
Ionic, covalent and metallic.
When does ionic bonding occur?
In compounds formed from metals combined with non-metals.
When does covalent bonding occur?
In most non-metallic elements and in compounds of non-metals.
When does metallic bonding occur?
In metallic elements and alloys.
What particles are involved in ionic bonding?
Oppositely charged ions.
What happens to electrons in covalent bonding?
Atoms share pairs of electrons.
What happens to electrons in metallic bonding?
Outer-shell electrons are delocalised and shared through the whole structure.
How are metals arranged structurally?
As giant structures of atoms arranged in a regular pattern.
What diagram clues identify a metallic giant structure?
A giant regular arrangement with delocalised electrons able to move through the whole structure.

Tap any card to flip it, or use Study as deck to go through them one at a time. In the full lesson these run as a spaced-repetition deck — you rate each card Hard, Good or Easy and the tricky ones keep coming back until they stick.

Learn Chemical bonds (ionic, covalent, metallic) properly — interactive practice, marked questions and flashcards.

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