1.2 Bonding
Ion formation, ionic bonding, covalent bonding, dot-and-cross representations, molecules and electronegativity.
How to study for CCEA GCSE Chemistry
Connect particle models to observations, balance every quantitative relationship, and prepare each prescribed practical from safe method through analysis and evaluation.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Ionic bonding is electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions formed by electron transfer.
Exam cue: Decide whether electron transfer or sharing fits the elements before drawing particles.
Concept 2
Covalent bonding is the attraction between a shared pair of electrons and the nuclei of the bonded atoms.
Exam cue: Balance total positive and negative charge when deriving an ionic formula.
Concept 3
Formulae and bonding diagrams must conserve atoms, charge and outer-shell electrons.
Exam cue: Show only the required outer electrons and identify where each shared electron originated.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Calling electron transfer itself the ionic bond rather than the later attraction between ions.
Guardrail: Do not import an England board, Single Award or Double Award structure, and do not replace a particle-level explanation with a vague observation.
Drawing a covalent molecule as separate charged ions.
Guardrail: Do not import an England board, Single Award or Double Award structure, and do not replace a particle-level explanation with a vague observation.
Using coefficients in place of subscripts when writing a compound formula.
Guardrail: Do not import an England board, Single Award or Double Award structure, and do not replace a particle-level explanation with a vague observation.
Memory anchors
Ionic bond
Electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Covalent bond
Attraction between a shared electron pair and both bonded nuclei.
Cation
A positively charged ion formed by electron loss.
Anion
A negatively charged ion formed by electron gain.
Molecule
Two or more atoms joined by covalent bonds.
Charge balance
An ionic compound has zero overall charge.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What is ionic bonding?
How does sodium form Na⁺?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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