Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter

This unit covers ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, the three states of matter, and how structure explains properties. It includes giant ionic lattices, simple molecules, giant covalent structures such as diamond and graphite, polymers, metals and alloys, and nanoparticles.

The organising idea is that structure determines properties, and nearly every question is an application of it. Learn to explain melting point in terms of the strength of the forces being overcome, and be precise about which forces: covalent bonds within molecules are strong, but the intermolecular forces between them are weak. That distinction is examined constantly and is the single most common error in the unit. Diamond and graphite reward learning as a contrasting pair. Dot-and-cross diagrams appear regularly and marks depend on showing the correct number of outer electrons.