GCSE Chemistry: Bonding, Structure, and Nanoparticles

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing fundamental chemistry topics including ionic bonding, giant structures, simple molecular substances, polymers, metallic bonding, alloys, and nanoparticles.

Electron

A subatomic particle that possesses a negative charge.

Negative Ion

A negatively charged particle formed when an atom gains electrons.

Positive Ion

A positively charged particle formed when an atom loses electrons.

Ionic Bonding

The electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions, formed when atoms transfer electrons in order to achieve full outer shells.

Giant Ionic Lattice

A huge 3D network made of billions of oppositely charged ions joined together.

Melting Point of Ionic Substances

High, because strong electrostatic bonds between oppositely charged ions require a large amount of energy to break.

Aqueous ($\text{aq}$)

A state denoting that a substance is dissolved in water.

Molten

In a melted, liquid state resulting from heat.

Electrical Conductivity of Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity when solid because the ions are not free to move; they conduct electricity when molten or in solution because the ions are free to move.

Soluble

The property of a substance indicating that it dissolves in water.

Insoluble

The property of a substance indicating that it does not dissolve in water.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed between non-metal atoms where pairs of electrons are shared.

Giant Covalent Structure

A structure consisting of a huge network of atoms linked by strong covalent bonds, exemplified by diamond, graphite, and silicon dioxide.

Diamond

A giant covalent allotrope of carbon in which each carbon atom forms $4$ strong covalent bonds, resulting in a high melting point and an inability to conduct electricity due to having no free electrons or ions.

Graphite

A form of carbon in which each carbon forms $3$ bonds and has $1$ delocalised electron free to move through layers and carry charge; weak forces between layers allow them to slide over each other to act as a lubricant.

Graphene

A single layer of graphite.

Fullerene

A substance made of carbon atoms arranged in a cage structure.

Polymer

A long chain molecule made of many monomers (or millions of small molecules) joined together by covalent bonds.

Thermosetting Polymers (Solid on Heating)

Polymers that remain solid upon heating due to strong cross links between polymer chains that require a large amount of energy to break.

Molecule

A group of atoms chemically bonded together.

Intermolecular Forces

Weak forces between molecules that hold them together and require little energy to break.

Simple Molecular Substance

Substances like methane and water that consist of molecules with strong covalent bonds between atoms but weak forces between molecules, resulting in low melting points.

Metallic Structure

A regular structure of positive metal ions arranged in layers surrounded by a sea of delocalised electrons.

Pure Metals

Metals whose regular layers of ions can slide over each other, making them soft.

Alloy

A mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, formed to make the material harder or less reactive.

Hardness of Alloys

The property caused by different sized atoms disrupting the regular metal layers, preventing them from sliding over each other.

Nanoparticles

Particles sized between $1\text{--}100\,\text{nm}$, consisting of a few hundred atoms.

Fine Particles ($\text{PM}_{2.5}$)

Particles with diameters ranging from $100\,\text{nm}$ to $2500\,\text{nm}$.

Coarse Particles ($\text{PM}_{10}$)

Particles with diameters ranging from $2500\,\text{nm}$ to $10000\,\text{nm}$.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio ($\text{SA:V}$)

A high geometric ratio found in nanoparticles that gives them different properties compared to bulk materials.

Conservation of Mass

The principle that atoms cannot be created or destroyed, meaning the total mass of the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products.