Chemical bonding — AS & A Level Chemistry (9701) questions by topic
Shapes, bond pairs and intermolecular forces run through this topic: counting bond and lone pairs in species such as the ammonium ion, deducing bond angles, and explaining why ice's intermolecular forces are slightly stronger than water's.
Identify, explain, state, deduce and draw lead across 63 questions from 2023 to 2025 papers, worth from 1 to 20 marks, the broadest span in this set, so single-mark shape recall sits beside multi-mark bonding explanations. Checking each diagram and explanation through instant marking catches a covalent structure drawn where an ionic one was needed, or a state symbol omitted from an elemental species, before the same gap surfaces again.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is drawing a covalent, shared-pair structure instead of the required ionic form, or failing to show all four electrons.
- Examiners note candidates giving linear, trigonal planar or planar shapes where a different geometry was correct, and omitting state symbols from elemental species.
- Reports flag presenting unnecessary spin-pair repulsion arguments as unproductive padding.
- Strong answers defined electronegativity as the power of an atom to attract bonding electrons to itself, and drew the ionic form with all four electrons shown.
- Candidates who identified that bent and unsymmetrical linear molecules carry an overall dipole moment, unlike their symmetrical linear counterparts, scored well.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Substance W has the physical properties shown. m.p./°C b.p./°C electrical conductivity of solid of liquid in water 2072 2980 poor good insoluble What is substance W? A aluminium…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which diagram represents the lattice structure of sodium chloride? A NaCl arrangement where each Na is surrounded by Cl atoms (covalent-like) B Ionic lattice with alternating +…
Answer this question and get it marked →In which pair do both species: - have the same shape - have the same number of covalent bonds? A methane and the ammonium ion B carbon dioxide and nitrogen C boron trifluoride and…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which diagram shows the electronegativity of the elements Na, Mg, Al and Si plotted against their first ionisation energies? A Positive correlation, Si highest on both axes B Si…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Consider the following statements. 1 Silicon dioxide has a higher melting point than sulfur dioxide. 2 Ammonia has a higher boiling point than phosphine, PH3. Which statements are…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which row is correct? smallest bond angle → largest bond angle: A H2O, NH3, BF3 B BF3, NH3, H2O C NH3, H2O, BF3 D H2O, BF3, NH3
Answer this question and get it marked →The average intermolecular forces in water are much stronger than the average intermolecular forces in steam. The average intermolecular forces in ice are slightly stronger than…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
In which substance are covalent bonds broken as it melts? A silicon(IV) oxide B ice C iodine D ethanol
Answer this question and get it marked →BF3 reacts with NH3 to form a single compound with a simple molecular structure. BF3 + NH3 → F3B–NH3 Which row describes how the bond angles change during the reaction? A F–B–F…
Answer this question and get it marked →In which row do the particles increase in size? smallest → largest: A N, O, F B N^3-, O^2-, F^- C Na^+, Mg^2+, Al^3+ D Na^+, Ne, F^-
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 14
In which pair is the bond angle in the first species smaller than the smallest bond angle in the second species? A CH4 and SF6 B CO2 and BF3 C H2O and H3O^+ D NH4^+ and NH3
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statement about the molecule PF5 is correct? A Every F–P–F bond angle is 90°. B The central atom in the molecule does not have a lone pair of electrons. C The molecule has…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which solid compound has both ionic and covalent bonding but not coordinate bonding? A Al2Cl6 B CH3COONa C MgCl2 D NH4Cl
Answer this question and get it marked →The table shows the numbers of bond pairs and lone pairs in four different species. Which row is correct? A nitrogen molecule: 3 bond pairs, 1 lone pair B ammonia molecule: 4 bond…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statement about an ammonium ion is correct? A All of the H–N–H bond angles in the ion are 90°. B All of the H–N–H bond angles in the ion are 107°. C The ion contains a N–H…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 21
(i) Name the type of bonding in sodium. Name the type of bonding in sodium oxide. (ii) Explain how solid sodium conducts electricity. (iii) Explain why sodium oxide conducts…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 24
State the type of lattice structure present in magnesium, silicon and phosphorus, P4. Give the name of each type of lattice structure.
Answer this question and get it marked →SCl2 is a molecule with a non-linear shape. (i) State the shape of SCl2. (ii) State the bond angle in SCl2.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
When solid aluminium chloride is heated, Al2Cl6 is formed. Which bonding is present in Al2Cl6? A covalent and coordinate (dative covalent) B covalent only C ionic and coordinate…
Answer this question and get it marked →The structure of the sulfur dioxide molecule is shown. The displayed structure has a central S atom double-bonded to two O atoms (O=S=O), with the S atom carrying a lone pair and…
Answer this question and get it marked →The graph shows the boiling points of the hydrogen compounds of Group 16 elements. The graph plots boiling point /degC against the period; H2O has a boiling point of 100 degC, H2S…
Answer this question and get it marked →What is the bond angle in the ammonium ion? A 90 deg B 107 deg C 109.5 deg D 120 deg
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
Which shape is correctly predicted by VSEPR theory? number of bonded electron pairs number of lone pairs shape --- --- --- --- A 2 2 linear B 2 2 tetrahedral C 3 1 pyramidal D 3 1…
Answer this question and get it marked →In which species does the underlined atom have an incomplete outer shell? A underlined B in BF3 B underlined C in CH3^- C underlined O in F2O D underlined O in H3O^+
Answer this question and get it marked →Consider the following four compounds. 1 (CH3)3CH 2 CH3CH2CH2OH 3 CH3CH2CH2SH 4 CH3CH2CH2CH3 What is the order of increasing boiling point of the compounds (lowest first)? A 1 - 4…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 13
Arsenic forms a compound with fluorine. In this compound, the arsenic atom has no lone pair of electrons and there are no dative bonds. Selenium also forms a compound with…
Answer this question and get it marked →A structure for borazole, N3B3H6, is shown: a planar six-membered ring of alternating boron and nitrogen atoms, each carrying one H atom, with one B=N double bond drawn and the…
Answer this question and get it marked →The table shows physical properties of four substances, W, X, Y and Z. melting point /degC boiling point /degC electrical conductivity of solid electrical conductivity of liquid…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 21
Hydrocarbon molecules contain covalent bonds. Define covalent bond.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 23
NH3(g) reacts with HCl(g) to produce NH4Cl(s), as shown. NH3(g) + HCl(g) → NH4Cl(s) Draw a diagram to show the ionic, covalent and coordinate bonding present in a formula unit of…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
Phosphorus forms a compound with hydrogen called phosphine, PH₃. This compound can react with a hydrogen ion, H⁺. Which type of interaction occurs between PH₃ and H⁺? A dative…
Answer this question and get it marked →The element tin exists in two forms, grey tin and white tin. Some properties of grey tin and white tin are shown. grey tin white tin --- --- --- boiling point / K 2543 2533…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which solid has a simple molecular lattice? A calcium fluoride B nickel C silicon(IV) oxide D sulfur
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
An ion contains 1 nitrogen atom and 2 hydrogen atoms. It has an H–N–H bond angle of approximately 105°. Which row is correct? number of lone pairs around N in ion overall charge…
Answer this question and get it marked →Why does ICl have a higher boiling point than Br₂? A because of the difference in the bond energies of the covalent bonds within ICl and Br₂ B because of the difference in the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statement about the properties associated with the different types of bonding involved is correct? A Any covalent compound that contains both oxygen and hydrogen in its…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 13
Phosphorus forms a compound with hydrogen called phosphine, PH₃. This compound can react with a hydrogen ion, H⁺. Which type of interaction occurs between PH₃ and H⁺? A dative…
Answer this question and get it marked →The element tin exists in two forms, grey tin and white tin. Some properties of grey tin and white tin are shown. grey tin white tin --- --- --- boiling point / K 2543 2533…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which solid has a simple molecular lattice? A calcium fluoride B nickel C silicon(IV) oxide D sulfur
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 21
The Group 14 elements show a change from non-metallic to metallic character down the group. Table 3.1 shows some properties of two Group 14 elements, C and Sn, in their standard…
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 12
In which species is there a lone pair of electrons? A CH3 B CH3⁺ C CH3⁻ D CH4
Answer this question and get it marked →In a sample of pure water, what is the maximum number of hydrogen bonds that one molecule of water can be involved in? A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 22
The Pauling electronegativity values of elements can be used to predict the chemical properties of compounds. Use the information in Table 1.1 to answer the following questions.…
Answer this question and get it marked →The Group 2 elements Mg to Ba are all silvery-white reactive metals. Draw a labelled diagram to show the bonding and structure of the Group 2 metals at room temperature.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
Histidine is an amino acid. The displayed structure of histidine is shown, with bond angles labelled 1, 2 and 3. Bond angle 1 is the C-N-H angle inside the aromatic imidazole…
Answer this question and get it marked →The boiling points of Br2, ICl and IBr are given in the table. Br2 ICl IBr --- --- --- --- boiling point / °C 59 97 116 Which row explains why the boiling point of ICl is greater…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
Which row is correct? molecule shape total number of pairs of electrons in the valence shell of the central atom --- --- --- --- A CO2 linear two B BF3 trigonal planar three C NH3…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
Ammonia reacts with acids to form the ammonium ion. NH3 + H+ <= NH4+ Which row is correct? shape of NH4+ bond angle in NH4+ / deg --- --- --- A pyramidal 107 B pyramidal 109.5 C…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statement explains why buckminsterfullerene has a lower melting point than graphite? A Buckminsterfullerene exists as discrete molecules with weak intermolecular bonding. B…
Answer this question and get it marked →HCN has been detected in interstellar gas. The molecules below have also been detected in interstellar gas. Which molecule contains the same total number of valence shell (outer…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
The melting points of some solids are shown in Table 1.1: magnesium 923 K; phosphorus 317 K; sodium chloride 1074 K; sulfur 392 K. State the type of bonding present in magnesium…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 23
Copper is used in electrical equipment. It has a melting point of 1085 degC. Identify the lattice structure of copper.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Solid aluminium chloride sublimes at 178 degrees C. Which structure best represents the species in the vapour at this temperature? A: a dimer Al2Cl6 with two chlorine bridges…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which row is correct? A: shape of H3O+ pyramidal, shape of SCl2 non-linear. B: shape of H3O+ pyramidal, shape of SCl2 linear. C: shape of H3O+ trigonal planar, shape of SCl2…
Answer this question and get it marked →Nitrogen, N2, and carbon monoxide, CO, both have Mr = 28. The boiling point of N2 is 77 K. The boiling point of CO is 82 K. What could be responsible for this difference in…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
Ammonium ions, NH4+, are formed when ammonia gas reacts with hydrogen chloride gas. Which statement about the changes that occur in this reaction is correct? A: The dipole moment…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which feature is present in both ethene and poly(ethene)? A: bond angles of 109.5 degrees. B: pi covalent bonds. C: sigma covalent bonds. D: sp3 orbitals.
Answer this question and get it marked →Two compounds of boron are sodium borohydride, NaBH4, and boron trifluoride, BF3. What are the shapes of the borohydride ion and the boron trifluoride molecule? A: borohydride ion…
Answer this question and get it marked →In the structure of solid SiO2, each silicon atom is bonded to x oxygen atoms, each oxygen atom is bonded to y silicon atoms, and each bond is a z type bond. What is the correct…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
Aluminium carbide, Al4C3, reacts readily with aqueous sodium hydroxide. The two products of the reaction are NaAlO2 and a hydrocarbon. Water molecules are also involved as…
Answer this question and get it marked →Solid aluminium chloride sublimes at 178 degrees C. Which structure best represents the species in the vapour at this temperature? A A dimeric Al2Cl6 structure: two Al atoms each…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which row is correct? shape of H3O+ shape of SCl2 --- --- --- A pyramidal non-linear B pyramidal linear C trigonal planar non-linear D trigonal planar linear
Answer this question and get it marked →Nitrogen, N2, and carbon monoxide, CO, both have Mr = 28. The boiling point of N2 is 77 K. The boiling point of CO is 82 K. What could be responsible for this difference in…
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