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This question is about structure and bonding - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 1
This question is about structure and bonding. Which two substances have intermolecular forces between particles? Tick (✓) two boxes. Diamond Magnesium Poly(ethene... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:This question is about structure and bonding - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Compare the structure and bonding of the three compounds: • carbon dioxide • magnesium oxide • silicon dioxide.
Answer
Carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide are both composed of atoms, whereas magnesium oxide is made up of ions. Both silicon dioxide and magnesium oxide have giant structures, but carbon dioxide is comprised of small molecules that have weak intermolecular forces.
All three compounds exhibit strong bonds. Specifically, carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide are formed from two non-metals, resulting in covalent bonds where electron pairs are shared between atoms. In contrast, magnesium oxide is formed from a metal and a non-metal, leading to ionic bonds where electrons are transferred from magnesium to oxygen; two electrons are transferred in this process.
The bonding in silicon dioxide consists of single and double bonds; each silicon forms four bonds. Carbon dioxide, however, contains double bonds between carbon and oxygen.