Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry

2.4Ions and ionic bonds

Ions and ionic bonds in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry: what the syllabus expects you to know, the learning objectives and how to practise.

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Learning objectives

What the syllabus expects you to be able to do.

2.4.1Describe how positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions) are formed.
2.4.2State that an ionic bond is a strong electrostatic attraction between ions of opposite charge.
2.4.3Describe, using dot-and-cross diagrams, how ionic bonds form between elements of Group I and Group VII.
2.4.4Describe the properties of ionic compounds: high melting and boiling points, and good electrical conductivity when molten or in aqueous solution but poor conductivity when solid.
2.4.5Supplement: describe the giant lattice of an ionic compound as a regular arrangement of alternating positive and negative ions.
2.4.6Supplement: describe, using dot-and-cross diagrams, the formation of ionic bonds between ions of metallic and non-metallic elements.
2.4.7Supplement: explain the melting points, boiling points and electrical conductivity of ionic compounds in terms of their structure and bonding.

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