A research chemist is reviewing several binary substances that can be formed from…
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · AP · Chemistry · Compound Structure and Properties · Compound Structure and Properties
Problem
A research chemist is reviewing several binary substances that can be formed from representative elements. Three element pairs are listed below.
Pair I: lithium and fluorine
Pair II: silicon and oxygen
Pair III: copper and zinc
All elements are in their most common oxidation states when they combine.
(a) For each pair, classify the predominant type of chemical bonding that is expected to exist between the atoms in the resulting solid. Choose from: ionic, covalent, or metallic.
(b) For Pair II, explain your classification by discussing the relative positions of silicon and oxygen in the periodic table and their qualitative electronegativity difference.
(c) For Pair III, describe the nature of the bonding at the particulate level and relate that bonding to two macroscopic properties characteristic of the solid formed from copper and zinc.
(d) For Pair I, justify why the bond is not perfectly ionic even though a metal and a non-metal are involved. Refer to the concept of the bonding continuum in your explanation.