AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), Higher tier · Bonding, structure and the properties of matter › Chemical bonds: ionic, covalent and metallic
Practise Ionic bonding. 20 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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Ionic compounds form when metals react with non-metals. What is the charge on an oxide ion?
2−
Give the electronic structures of the lithium ion and the fluoride ion.
Li+: 2; F−: 2,8
Give the electronic structure of a magnesium ion and of an oxide ion.
both 2,8
Give the electronic structures of the sodium ion and the oxide ion.
Na+: 2,8; O2−: 2,8
Give the charge on the ion formed by potassium and the charge on the ion formed by sulfur.
potassium 1+; sulfur 2−
Identify two mistakes in the student's description. Correct each mistake.
Electrons are transferred, not shared; the aluminium ion is 3+ and the fluoride ion is 1−.
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
Ionic compounds form when metals react with non-metals.
(a) When a metal atom reacts with a non-metal atom, what happens to the electrons in the outer shell of the metal atom? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
They are transferred to the non-metal atom.
They are shared with the non-metal atom.
They are gained from the non-metal atom.
They become delocalised.
(b) What is the charge on a sodium ion? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
1−
1+
2+
2−
(c) What is the charge on an oxide ion?[1]
(d) Complete the sentence. Tick (✓) one box. The ions formed by Group 1 metals have the same electronic structure as ................[1]
a noble gas
a halogen
a transition metal
an alkali metal
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: They are transferred to the non-metal atom.
(b)Answer: 1+
(c)Answer: 2−
2− / −2
(d)Answer: a noble gas
Question 2Medium6 marks
Lithium reacts with fluorine to form lithium fluoride, LiF. The electronic structure of lithium is 2,1. The electronic structure of fluorine is 2,7.
(a) Describe what happens when a lithium atom reacts with a fluorine atom. Answer in terms of electrons.[3]
(b) Give the electronic structures of the lithium ion and the fluoride ion.[2]
(c) Which noble gas has the same electronic structure as the fluoride ion?[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The lithium atom loses its outer electron, which is transferred to the fluorine atom; Li+ and F− ions form.
the lithium atom loses one electron
the electron is transferred to / gained by the fluorine atom
Li+ and F− ions are formed
(b)Answer: Li+: 2; F−: 2,8
Li+: 2
F−: 2,8
(c)Answer: neon
neon / Ne
Question 3Hard6 marks
Calcium reacts with chlorine to form calcium chloride. The electronic structure of calcium is 2,8,8,2. The electronic structure of chlorine is 2,8,7.
Describe how calcium chloride forms from calcium atoms and chlorine atoms. Your answer should include the electronic structures of the ions formed and the formula of calcium chloride.[6]
Show the answer and mark scheme
Answer: Each Ca atom loses 2 electrons, one to each of two Cl atoms; Ca2+ (2,8,8) and 2Cl− (2,8,8) form, with noble gas structures; formula CaCl2; ions held by strong electrostatic attraction.
each calcium atom loses its two outer electrons
one electron is transferred to each of two chlorine atoms
each chlorine atom gains one electron
a calcium ion, Ca2+, forms with electronic structure 2,8,8
two chloride ions, Cl−, form, each with electronic structure 2,8,8
all the ions have the electronic structure of a noble gas (argon) / a full outer shell
the formula is CaCl2 because two Cl− ions balance the charge on one Ca2+ ion
the oppositely charged ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction (in a giant lattice)
Marked with levels of response: the full level descriptors are in the app.