Types of Substance (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)

Classifying Substances

• All matter is composed of atoms which are bonded together, either by ionic, covalent or metallic bonds

• The identity of the elements and bonding present influences the structure and physical properties of a substance

• The vast majority of known substances can be classified by their type of bonding and hence their structures into four main categories

• These are:

  • Ionic

  • Simple molecular (covalent)

  • Giant covalent

  • Metallic

Ionic compounds

Bonding

• Ionic compounds consist of a metal bonded to a non-metal via electron transfer

• They form regular shaped giant ionic lattices in which strong electrostatic forces act in all directions

Properties

• A lot of energy is required to break so many strong bonds hence they have high melting and boiling points, so ionic compounds are usually solid at room temperature and are non-volatile

• They are usually water soluble

• Ionic compounds can conduct electricity in the molten state or in solution as they have ions that can move and carry charge

• They cannot conduct electricity in the solid state

A giant ionic lattice

Simple covalent molecules

Bonding 

• Small covalent compounds consist of non-metal elements which have bonded together via electron sharing

Properties

• They have low melting and boiling points so covalent compounds are usually liquids or gases at room temperature.

• This is because the weak intermolecular forces are easily overcome, meaning that these compounds are usually volatile, which is why many covalent organic compounds have distinct aromas

• The intermolecular forces increase with molecular size, hence large molecules have higher melting and boiling points

• Most covalent compounds are insoluble as they tend to be non-polar but can dissolve in organic solvents

• Some do dissolve in water by forming intermolecular attractions between the water molecules

• They cannot conduct electricity as all electrons are involved in bonding so there are no free electrons or ions to carry the charge

Simple molecules like water have low melting and boiling points

Giant covalent structures

Bonding

• Giant covalent structures consist of many non-metals atoms bonded to other non-metal atoms via strong covalent bonds

Properties

• They have high melting and boiling points as they have many strong covalent bonds

• Large amounts of heat energy are needed to overcome these forces and break down bonds

• Most cannot conduct electricity as they do not have free electrons but there are some exceptions such as graphite

Giant covalent structures have very high melting and boiling points

Metals

Bonding

• Metals consist of metal atoms are held together strongly by metallic bonding

• Within the metal lattice, the atoms lose their valence electrons and become positively charged

• The valence electrons no longer belong to any metal atom and are said to be delocalised, creating what is known as a sea of free electrons

• The free electrons move freely in between the positive metal atoms

Properties

• Metallic bonds are very strong and are a result of the attraction between the positive metal ions and the negatively charged delocalised electrons

• Metals thus have very high melting and boiling points

• They are usually insoluble in water although some do react with water

• They can conduct heat and electricity due to the delocalised electrons

• The layers of atoms in metals can slide over each other meaning metals are malleable and can be hammered and bent into shapes

Metallic structures have high melting and boiling points, are malleable and conduct electricity