Structure and Bonding

Key Words

Ions - charged particles. Can be single atoms or groups of atoms.

Ionic bonding - transfer of electrons.

Dot and cross diagrams - show how ionic compounds are formed.

Ionic Compounds - have high melting points due to strong bonds.

Giant ionic lattice - structure from ionic compounds.

Covalent bonds - non-metal atoms bond together sharing pairs of electrons.

Simple molecular substances - made up of molecules containing a few atoms joined together by convlent bonds.

Polymers - long chains of repeating units. Atoms in a polymer are joined by strong convalent bonds.

Giant covalent structures / Macromolecules - all atoms are bonded to earch other by strong covalent bonds.

Allotropes - different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state.

Fullerenes - molecules of carbon, shaped like closed tubes or hollow balls.

Nanotubes - tiny carbon cylinders formed from fullerenes.

Alloys - a mixture of two or more metals or a metal and another element.

Nanoparticles - really tiny particles containing only a few hundred atoms.

Nanoscience - a science that investigates the uses and properties of nanoparticles.

Nanomedicine - small particles that can deliver drugs right into the cells where they're needed.

Also see Atomic Structure, Polymers,