Ion and ionic bonds
2.4What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe the formation of positive ions, known as cations, and negative ions, known as anions
- Describe the giant lattice structure of ionic compounds as a regular arrangement of alternating positive and negative ions
- State that an ionic bond is a strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
- Describe the formation of ionic bonds between ions of metallic and non-metallic elements, including the use of dot-and-cross diagrams
- Describe and explain in terms of structure and bonding the properties of ionic compounds: (a) high melting points and boiling points (b) good electrical conductivity when aqueous or molten and poor when solid
Read the notes first
Chapter 2: Ions and ionic bonds
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Every question on Ion and ionic bonds, untimed, marked as you go.
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39 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Alattice diagram with Mg²⁺ and O²⁻ ions arranged in a cube
Blattice diagram with O²⁻ and Mg²⁺ ions arranged in a cube
Cshell diagram: Mg with 2+ charge and O with 2− charge
Dshell diagram: Mg with 2− charge and O with 2+ charge
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AIt has metallic bonds.
BIt has strong forces between its molecules.
CIt is a simple molecular substance.
DIt is an ionic compound.
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3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q5Show mark scheme →
A0
B1
C2
D4
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
Aberyllium sulfide
Blithium fluoride
Cmagnesium chloride
Dsodium oxide
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5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Aammonium
Bcarbonate
Cmanganate(VII)
Dsulfite
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6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Agiant lattice | simple molecules | anion | cation
Bsimple molecules | giant lattice | anion | cation
Cgiant lattice | simple molecules | cation | anion
Dsimple molecules | giant lattice | cation | anion
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7May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q7Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
AIt conducts electricity.
BIt has a low melting point.
CIt has an ionic lattice structure.
DIt is insoluble in water.
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8May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q7Show mark scheme →
AIt has a high melting point and good electrical conductivity at r.t.p.
BIt is made up of magnesium anions and oxygen cations.
CIt is an ionic compound and has good electrical conductivity when molten.
DIt is strongly bonded because of electrons shared between magnesium atoms and oxygen atoms.
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9Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q5Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
ACovalent compounds, such as glucose, conduct when molten or dissolved in water.
BDilute acids, such as sulfuric acid, conduct because all the ions are free to move.
CIonic compounds, such as sodium chloride, conduct due to movement of electrons.
DMetals, such as copper, conduct due to movement of positive ions.
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10Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
ADiagram A
BDiagram B
CDiagram C
DDiagram D
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11May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q4Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 4
C2 and 3
D3 and 4
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12May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
A2 atoms each lose 3 electrons; 3 atoms each receive 2 electrons; covalent
B2 atoms each lose 3 electrons; 3 atoms each receive 2 electrons; ionic
C2 atoms each receive 3 electrons; 3 atoms each lose 2 electrons; covalent
D2 atoms each receive 3 electrons; 3 atoms each receive 2 electrons; ionic
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13Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q10Show mark scheme →
AX donates electrons to Y; ionic
BX shares electrons with Y; covalent
CY donates electrons to X; covalent
DY shares electrons with X; ionic
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14Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q12Show mark scheme →
ANH4 ion 1+; VO3 ion 1–
BNH4 ion 2+; VO3 ion 2–
CNH4 ion 3+; VO3 ion 4–
DNH4 ion 4+; VO3 ion 3–
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15Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q7Show mark scheme →
Aliquid; does not conduct electricity at room temperature; does not conduct electricity when molten; conducts electricity when in aqueous solution
Bsolid; conducts electricity at room temperature; conducts electricity when molten; conducts electricity when in aqueous solution
Csolid; conducts electricity at room temperature; conducts electricity when molten; insoluble
Dsolid; does not conduct electricity at room temperature; conducts electricity when molten; conducts electricity when in aqueous solution
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16Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q9Show mark scheme →
A$\mathrm{Al^+}$ $\mathrm{O^-}$
B$\mathrm{Al^{2+}}$ $\mathrm{O^{2-}}$
C$\mathrm{Al^{2+}}$ $\mathrm{O^{3-}}$
D$\mathrm{Al^{3+}}$ $\mathrm{O^{2-}}$
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17May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
AW and X conduct electricity.
BW and Y are elements.
CX and Z dissolve in water.
DY and Z have low melting points.
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18May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q9Show mark scheme →
AA covalent solid is formed in this process.
BEach chlorine atom gains one electron in this process.
CEach magnesium atom loses only one electron in this process.
DMolecules of an element are formed during the reaction.
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19May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Aboth X and Y are / both X and Y conduct
Bboth X and Y are / only X conducts
Conly X is / both X and Y conduct
Donly X is / only X conducts
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20May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q9Show mark scheme →
AThey are all solids at room temperature.
BThey all conduct electricity at room temperature.
CThey are all soluble in water.
DThey all have strong intermolecular forces.
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21Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q10Also set in Oct / Nov 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aammonia
Bmethane
Csodium chloride
Dwater
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22Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q11Also set in Oct / Nov 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aa lattice of ions in a 'sea of electrons'
Belectrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
Cthe sharing of electrons between atoms to gain a noble gas configuration
Dthe transfer of electrons from atoms of a non-metal to the atoms of a metal
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23May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q10Show mark scheme →
Aammonia
Bcalcium chloride
Cethanoic acid
Dhydrogen chloride
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24May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q10Show mark scheme →
Acarbon and hydrogen
Bhydrogen and chlorine
Clithium and oxygen
Dsulfur and oxygen
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25May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q7Also set in May / June 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
ADiagram A
BDiagram B
CDiagram C
DDiagram D
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26Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q7Show mark scheme →
AIt has metallic bonds.
BIt has strong forces between its molecules.
CIt is a simple molecular substance.
DIt is an ionic compound.
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27Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q7Show mark scheme →
Acalcium / chlorine
Bcalcium / oxygen
Csodium / chlorine
Dsodium / oxygen
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28May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q14Show mark scheme →
AIonic compounds conduct electricity when solid because they contain charged particles that can move.
BIonic compounds consist of a lattice of positive ions and negative ions.
CMost ionic compounds are solids at room temperature because of the strong attraction between electrons and positive ions.
DWhen molten or in aqueous solution, ionic compounds conduct electricity because they contain electrons that can move.
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29May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q6Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AX krypton, Y potassium, Z sodium chloride
BX krypton, Y sodium chloride, Z potassium
CX sodium chloride, Y krypton, Z potassium
DX sodium chloride, Y potassium, Z krypton
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30Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
AThey dissolve in water.
BThey are formed when metals share electrons with non-metals.
CThey conduct electricity in the molten state.
DThey conduct electricity in the solid state.
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31Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q9Show mark scheme →
AAn oxygen atom shares two electrons with two sodium atoms.
BA sodium atom loses two electrons which are transferred to an oxygen atom.
CA sodium atom shares its outer shell electron with two oxygen atoms.
DTwo sodium atoms each lose one electron which are both transferred to one oxygen atom.
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32Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q8Show mark scheme →
AY2X, covalent
BY2X, ionic
CX2Y, covalent
DX2Y, ionic
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33May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q10Show mark scheme →
Abitumen
Bcaesium iodide
Cdiamond
Dsand
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34May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Amelting point –102 °C; does not conduct electricity when solid; dissolves in water; conducts electricity in aqueous solution
Bmelting point 801 °C; does not conduct electricity when solid; dissolves in water; conducts electricity in aqueous solution
Cmelting point 842 °C; conducts electricity when solid; dissolves in water; conducts electricity in aqueous solution
Dmelting point 3000 °C; conducts electricity when solid; does not dissolve in water; does not conduct electricity in aqueous solution
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35Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q12Show mark scheme →
AAn atom of X has lost at least one electron to form a positive ion.
BBoth X and Y share a pair of electrons.
CElement X is also a non-metal.
DXY will not conduct electricity when liquid.
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36Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q10Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
ADiagram A
BDiagram B
CDiagram C
DDiagram D
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37May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
Atransfer two electrons to an atom of oxygen.
Breceive two electrons from an atom of oxygen.
Cshare two electrons with an atom of oxygen.
Dbond with two atoms of oxygen.
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38May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q11Show mark scheme →
Ainsoluble / covalent
Binsoluble / ionic
Csoluble / covalent
Dsoluble / ionic
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39May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
ACompound Z has strong forces of attraction between electrons and positive ions.
BCompound Z has strong forces of attraction between negative ions and positive ions.
CElements X and Y are both metals.
DElements X and Y are both non-metals.
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