New
New
Year 10
AQA
Higher

Giant ionic structures

I can describe how metal and non-metal ions bond together to form giant ionic structures.

New
New
Year 10
AQA
Higher

Giant ionic structures

I can describe how metal and non-metal ions bond together to form giant ionic structures.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Salts form ionic structures because they contain metal and non-metal ions.
  2. In an ionic structure each positive ion attracts the negative ions and vice-versa.
  3. Metal ions attract all non-metal ions and vice-versa, they bond to the opposite charged ions that are closest.
  4. An ionic bond is the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely-charged ions acting in all directions.
  5. Ionic substances are 3D lattices with regular arrangements of ions ( in a repeating pattern of +ve and -ve charge).

Common misconception

That the ionic bond is the transfer of electrons and not the electrostatic forces of attraction between the ions. The ball and stick model implies that there is a physical link between the ions.

Ensure that students have a good understanding of how ions are formed and that ionic bond forms when oppostive ions attract; before moving on to dot and cross diagrams for binary ionic substances.

Keywords

  • Ionic bond - the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely-charged ions acting in all directions

  • Ball-and-stick model - used to represent the atoms and bonds in a chemical compound

  • Lattice - the regular arrangement of atoms or ions in a 3D space

Show your students a range of ionic crystals or grow some copper sulfate crystals. Encourage students to build a model of a giant lattice structure using model kits, playdoh, or clay and straws. Demonstrate that opposites attract by charging a balloon and sticking it to the wall.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
How is a negative ion formed?
Correct answer: An atom gains electrons.
An atom loses electrons.
An atom shares electrons.
Q2.
Explain how sodium atoms become sodium ions.
Correct answer: Sodium atoms lose one electron to form a cation.
Sodium atoms gain an electron to form a cation.
Sodium ions lose one electron to form an anion.
Sodium ions gain one electron to form an anion.
Q3.
Which of the following types of bonding occurs between non–metal atoms.
Correct answer: covalent
ionic
metallic
Q4.
Most atoms increase their stability by forming bonds with other atoms so that they have a full of electrons.
Correct Answer: outer shell, outershell, valence shell
Q5.
Which of the following are examples of non–metal elements?
Correct answer: O
Correct answer: N
Mg
Na
K
Q6.
Sulfur is in Group 6 of the periodic table. Which of the following correctly shows the charge on a sulfur ion?
S⁶⁻
Correct answer: S²⁻
S⁴⁻
S⁻

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following key terms to their definitions.
Correct Answer:ionic bond,The electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely-charged ions.

The electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely-charged ions.

Correct Answer:lattice,The regular arrangement of atoms or ions in a 3D space.

The regular arrangement of atoms or ions in a 3D space.

Correct Answer:salt,A compound normally containing a metal ion and a non–metal ion.

A compound normally containing a metal ion and a non–metal ion.

Correct Answer:ion,An atom or molecule with charge due to the gain or loss of electrons.

An atom or molecule with charge due to the gain or loss of electrons.

Q2.
A ionic bond is the force of attraction between oppositely–charged ions that acts in all directions.
Correct Answer: electrostatic
Q3.
What is the name given to the type of model shown in the diagram?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: ball–and–stick
particle
dot–and–cross
2D diagram
Q4.
Which of the following types of structure do ionic compounds form?
giant covalent structures
Correct answer: 3D lattices of positively and negatively charged ions
small, simple molecules
lattice of positively charged ions in a sea of delocalised electrons
Q5.
Magnesium oxide, MgO, contains ionic bonds. Which of the following statements about magnesium oxide are correct?
Correct answer: It contains Mg²⁺ and O²⁻ ions.
One Mg²⁺ ion is attracted to only one O²⁻ ion.
Correct answer: Mg²⁺ ions attract all nearby O²⁻ ions.
It contains MgO simple molecules.
Q6.
The diagram shows a 3D model of the giant ionic structure of magnesium oxide. What is an advantage of this type of model?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: It shows the alternating pattern of positive and negative ions.
It shows the forces of attraction between the ions.
It shows how the electrons are transferred.
It is to scale.