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Olamide
09/12/2025
Biology
C2- BONDING(CHEMISTRY )
216
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9 Dec 2025
•
C2 - Bonding in Chemistry: Knowledge Guide
Olamide
@olamide_26
Bonding Fundamentals and Ionic Compounds
Ever wondered why salt dissolves in water but oil doesn't? It all comes down to ionic bonding. When metals meet non-metals, electrons get passed around like a game of hot potato - metals lose electrons to become positively charged ions (cations), whilst non-metals gain these electrons to become negatively charged ions (anions).
These oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other through electrostatic forces, creating incredibly strong ionic bonds. Think of it like powerful magnets - once they're stuck together, they form massive 3D structures called giant ionic lattices where millions of ions are all connected.
This explains why ionic compounds have high melting points - you need loads of energy to break apart all those strong attractions. They also conduct electricity when molten because the ions can finally move around and carry electrical charge, but when solid, the ions are locked in place like passengers on a packed tube train.
Quick Tip: Remember the phrase "metals lose, non-metals gain" - it's your key to understanding ionic bonding!
Covalent Bonding in Simple Molecules
Covalent bonding is like sharing your lunch with a mate - non-metal atoms share electrons to form strong bonds. These create small groups called molecules, like water (H₂O) or carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Unlike ionic compounds, covalent molecules have surprisingly low melting and boiling points. That's because whilst the bonds within each molecule are rock solid, the forces between different molecules are incredibly weak - like trying to stick magnets together with sellotape.
This is why many covalent compounds exist as gases or liquids at room temperature. They also don't conduct electricity because there aren't any charged particles floating about to carry the current.
Giant Covalent Structures - Carbon's Amazing Forms
Carbon is the ultimate show-off element, forming some of the most impressive structures in chemistry. Diamond is carbon's tough guy - each carbon atom bonds to four others, creating an unbreakable 3D network that's harder than any other natural material.
Graphite, on the other hand, is carbon's slippery cousin. Each carbon only forms three bonds, leaving spare electrons free to move around and conduct electricity. The carbon atoms arrange in layers with weak forces between them, which is why graphite feels slippery and why your pencil works - layers literally slide off onto your paper!
Both structures have extremely high melting points because breaking them means snapping millions of strong covalent bonds throughout the entire structure.
Modern Carbon Structures and Polymers
Science has discovered some absolutely mental carbon structures that sound like they're from sci-fi films. Fullerenes are hollow football-shaped molecules that can literally carry other chemicals inside them - imagine tiny molecular delivery trucks for medicines.
Graphene is basically a single layer of graphite that's incredibly strong yet flexible, making it perfect for bendy electronics. Carbon nanotubes are like rolled-up sheets of graphene, creating super-strong, lightweight tubes that are revolutionising everything from tennis rackets to spacecraft.
Polymers are like chemical trains - long chains of identical units (monomers) joined by covalent bonds. They're usually solid at room temperature because the intermolecular forces between these giant molecules are much stronger than those between simple molecules like water.
Real-World Connection: Your plastic water bottle, synthetic jumper, and even DNA are all polymers - chemistry is literally everywhere!
Metallic Bonding and Alloys
Metals are the ultimate team players in chemistry. Their atoms lose electrons to form positive metal ions, but instead of pairing up with specific partners, these electrons become delocalised - they're free to roam throughout the entire metal structure like electrons on a gap year.
This "sea of electrons" explains why metals are such brilliant conductors of both electricity and heat - the mobile electrons can carry energy and charge wherever needed. Metals are also malleable (bendy) because the layers of atoms can slide over each other whilst maintaining their electrical attraction.
Alloys are like metal cocktails - mixtures where other elements disrupt the neat layers of metal atoms. This makes them harder than pure metals because the distorted layers can't slide as easily. Steel and bronze are classic examples that have shaped human civilisation.
The high melting points of metals come from the strong electrostatic forces between positive ions and that sea of delocalised electrons - it takes serious energy to break up this electrical party.
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
C2 - Bonding in Chemistry: Knowledge Guide
Olamide
@olamide_26
Chemical bonding is all about how atoms stick together to form everything around us - from the salt on your chips to the diamond in jewellery. Understanding these bonds helps explain why metals conduct electricity, why water boils at 100°C,... Show more
Bonding Fundamentals and Ionic Compounds
Ever wondered why salt dissolves in water but oil doesn't? It all comes down to ionic bonding. When metals meet non-metals, electrons get passed around like a game of hot potato - metals lose electrons to become positively charged ions (cations), whilst non-metals gain these electrons to become negatively charged ions (anions).
These oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other through electrostatic forces, creating incredibly strong ionic bonds. Think of it like powerful magnets - once they're stuck together, they form massive 3D structures called giant ionic lattices where millions of ions are all connected.
This explains why ionic compounds have high melting points - you need loads of energy to break apart all those strong attractions. They also conduct electricity when molten because the ions can finally move around and carry electrical charge, but when solid, the ions are locked in place like passengers on a packed tube train.
Quick Tip: Remember the phrase "metals lose, non-metals gain" - it's your key to understanding ionic bonding!
Covalent Bonding in Simple Molecules
Covalent bonding is like sharing your lunch with a mate - non-metal atoms share electrons to form strong bonds. These create small groups called molecules, like water (H₂O) or carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Unlike ionic compounds, covalent molecules have surprisingly low melting and boiling points. That's because whilst the bonds within each molecule are rock solid, the forces between different molecules are incredibly weak - like trying to stick magnets together with sellotape.
This is why many covalent compounds exist as gases or liquids at room temperature. They also don't conduct electricity because there aren't any charged particles floating about to carry the current.
Giant Covalent Structures - Carbon's Amazing Forms
Carbon is the ultimate show-off element, forming some of the most impressive structures in chemistry. Diamond is carbon's tough guy - each carbon atom bonds to four others, creating an unbreakable 3D network that's harder than any other natural material.
Graphite, on the other hand, is carbon's slippery cousin. Each carbon only forms three bonds, leaving spare electrons free to move around and conduct electricity. The carbon atoms arrange in layers with weak forces between them, which is why graphite feels slippery and why your pencil works - layers literally slide off onto your paper!
Both structures have extremely high melting points because breaking them means snapping millions of strong covalent bonds throughout the entire structure.
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Modern Carbon Structures and Polymers
Science has discovered some absolutely mental carbon structures that sound like they're from sci-fi films. Fullerenes are hollow football-shaped molecules that can literally carry other chemicals inside them - imagine tiny molecular delivery trucks for medicines.
Graphene is basically a single layer of graphite that's incredibly strong yet flexible, making it perfect for bendy electronics. Carbon nanotubes are like rolled-up sheets of graphene, creating super-strong, lightweight tubes that are revolutionising everything from tennis rackets to spacecraft.
Polymers are like chemical trains - long chains of identical units (monomers) joined by covalent bonds. They're usually solid at room temperature because the intermolecular forces between these giant molecules are much stronger than those between simple molecules like water.
Real-World Connection: Your plastic water bottle, synthetic jumper, and even DNA are all polymers - chemistry is literally everywhere!
Metallic Bonding and Alloys
Metals are the ultimate team players in chemistry. Their atoms lose electrons to form positive metal ions, but instead of pairing up with specific partners, these electrons become delocalised - they're free to roam throughout the entire metal structure like electrons on a gap year.
This "sea of electrons" explains why metals are such brilliant conductors of both electricity and heat - the mobile electrons can carry energy and charge wherever needed. Metals are also malleable (bendy) because the layers of atoms can slide over each other whilst maintaining their electrical attraction.
Alloys are like metal cocktails - mixtures where other elements disrupt the neat layers of metal atoms. This makes them harder than pure metals because the distorted layers can't slide as easily. Steel and bronze are classic examples that have shaped human civilisation.
The high melting points of metals come from the strong electrostatic forces between positive ions and that sea of delocalised electrons - it takes serious energy to break up this electrical party.
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What is the Knowunity AI companion?
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Where can I download the Knowunity app?
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user