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VirginiaChemistry

Chemical Bonding and Nomenclature

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you draw a molecule's electron-dot structure and predict its shape?

Lewis structures and molecular geometry: draw electron-dot (Lewis) structures for simple molecules and use VSEPR to predict molecular shapes.
A focused Virginia SOL Chemistry answer on structure under CH.3: drawing electron-dot (Lewis) structures for simple molecules, counting bonding and lone pairs, and using VSEPR to predict shapes such as linear, bent, trigonal planar and tetrahedral.
9 min answer →

How do you turn a chemical name into a formula and a formula into a name?

Naming compounds and writing formulas: name and write formulas for ionic compounds (including polyatomic ions), binary molecular compounds and simple acids.
A focused Virginia SOL Chemistry answer on nomenclature under CH.3: writing formulas for ionic compounds by balancing charges (the crossover method), using polyatomic ions and roman numerals, and naming binary molecular compounds with prefixes and simple acids.
10 min answer →

Why are some molecules polar, and how do the forces between molecules set boiling points?

Polarity and intermolecular forces: determine molecular polarity from shape and bond polarity, and compare dispersion, dipole-dipole and hydrogen-bonding forces and their effect on properties.
A focused Virginia SOL Chemistry answer on polarity under CH.3: how bond polarity and molecular shape combine to make a molecule polar or nonpolar, the three intermolecular forces (dispersion, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding), and how they set boiling and melting points and solubility.
9 min answer →

Why do atoms bond, and what decides whether a bond is ionic, covalent or metallic?

Types of chemical bonds: explain ionic, covalent and metallic bonding in terms of valence electrons and electronegativity, and predict bond type from the periodic table.
A focused Virginia SOL Chemistry answer on bonding under CH.3: why atoms bond to reach a stable octet, how ionic, covalent and metallic bonds form, and how to predict the bond type from electronegativity difference and position on the periodic table.
9 min answer →