6C/S Chemistry Revision Note

Part II Microscopic World I

Chapter 5 Atomic Structure
 Elements can be classified into metals, semi-metals and non-metals based on their physical
properties.

 An element is a substance that is made up of only one kind of atoms.

 The three isotopes of hydrogen have special names – protium ( H 11), deuterium ( H 21 ) and tritium ( H 31

).

 The relative abundance of an isotope refers to the proportion of that particular isotope of an element
in nature

 Isotopes of the same element have the same number of electrons. Therefore, they have the same

chemical properties. However, they have different numbers of neutrons, so they have different

masses and hence slightly different physical properties.

 By comparing the mass of one isotope of an element with the reference standard, we obtain the
relative isotopic mass of that particular isotope (12C) of the element.
Relative isotopic mass ≈ mass number

 *The relative atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the relative isotopic masses of
all the naturally occurring isotopes of that element on the 12C = 12.00 scale.
It carries no unit.

Chapter 6 The Periodic Table

 Some of the groups in the Periodic Table have special names:
Group number Group name

Group I Alkali metals

Group II Alkaline Earth Metals

Group VII Halogens

Group 0 Noble gases

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 Elements in the same group above have similar chemical properties

 The elements that lie between Group II and Group III are called the transition metals.
Similarities of Group I elements

 Group I elements are soft metals and can be easily cut with a knife.

 All have low densities.

 All are reactive metals. They react with air readily and must be stored under paraffin oil.

 All react with water, giving off hydrogen to form an alkaline solution.

 Reactivity of Group I elements increases down the group.

The lower the position in the group  the larger the atomic size/ the more no. of electron shells 
the larger the distance between the outermost shell electrons and the nucleus  the easier to lose
electrons

Similarities of Group II elements

 All have low densities, but are higher than Group I metals.

 All are less reactive than alkali metals. (air – tight package)

 Reactivity of Group II elements increase down the group.

Similarities of Group VII elements

 All have colours. The elements become deeper in colour down the group.

 All are reactive.

 Reactivity of Group VII elements decrease down the group.

Similarities of Group 0 elements

 All are colourless gases at room temperature and pressure.

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 All are very inert. They have little or no reaction with other elements. This suggests that a particle has
great stability if it has:

 an octet of electrons (i.e. 8 electrons in the outermost shell) or

 a duplet of electrons (i.e. 2 electrons in the only one occupied shell).

 *The strong tendency of all atoms to attain the stable electronic arrangement of a noble gas (in

most cases an ‘octet’) is known as the octet rule.

Chapter 7 Chemical bonding: ionic bonding and metallic bonding

 Ionic bonds: the electrostatic attraction between ________________ and ________________.

By gaining or losing outermost shell electrons, atoms can attain the electronic arrangement of the

nearest ________________.

 A ________________ is derived from a single atom. E.g. Cu2+

 A ________________ is derived from a group of atoms. E.g. MnO42-

Formula Name Structure formula
Hydride ion

CN-

SiO32-

phosphide ion

chlorate ion

hypochlorite ion

S2O32-

Tetrathionate ion
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 Colour of ions
Ion Colour
Chromate
Nickel(II)
Cobalt(II)
Chromium(III)
Manganese(II)
Dichromate
Permanganate
Copper(II)
Iron(II)
Iron(III)

 Metallic bond: the electrostatic attraction between a ‘sea’ of _________________________ and

metal ions.

Chapter 8 Chemical bonding: covalent bonding

 The number of atoms in a molecule of an element or a compound is called _______________.

Molecule Atomicity
Ar monoatomic
O2 diatomic
O3 triatomic

 Covalent bond is the strong directional electrostatic attraction between the

_________________________ and the _________________________ of the bonded atoms

Name of Molecule Molecular Formula Structural Formula No. of bond pair and
lone pair
Hydrogen cyanide bond pair:

lone pair:

Ozone bond pair:

lone pair:

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 Propyne bond pair:

lone pair:

Tetrathionate bond pair:

ion**
lone pair:

Phosphorus bond pair:

Pentoxide**
lone pair:

 Dative covalent bond:

A dative covalent bond (or coordinate bond) is a covalent bond formed between two atoms where
both electrons of the shared pair are contributed by the same atom.

Example 1 – ammonium ion

Example 2 – Carbon monoxide

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 Example 3 – Ammonia boron trifluoride

Example 4 – Nitric acid**

 *Relative molecular mass: Weighted average of the relative isotopic masses of all the naturally
occurring isotopes of that element on the 12C = 12.00 scale.
It carries no unit.

 *Formula mass: the mass of one formula unit of it on the 12C = 12.00 scale.
It carries no unit.

 Formula mass is a general term applicable to all substances (or species) with a formula, while Relative

molecular mass only applies to__________________________.

 Summary:

Metallic bond Ionic bond Covalent bond

electrostatic attraction
electrostatic attraction
electrostatic attraction between the shared
between a ‘sea’ of negatively
Nature holding the oppositely electrons and the two
charged electrons and
charged ions together nuclei of the bonded
positively charged metal ions
atoms

transfer of one or more sharing of outermost

escape of outermost shell
Formation electrons from one atom shell electrons between
electrons from metal atoms
(or group of atoms) to two atoms

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 another

Directional/
non-directional non-directional directional
non-directional

Chapter 9 Structures and properties of substances

Simple molecular structures

 Most _____________ elements and covalent compounds are composed of simple, discrete molecules.

 Under temperatures below –78.5°C carbon dioxide gas changes to a solid (dry ice). Carbon dioxide

molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces (Van der Waals’ forces) and packed closely

together in a regular pattern, but they are still _______________________.

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 They have low __________________ and __________________.
Under room conditions, substances with a simple molecular structure are gases, volatile liquids, or
solids with low melting points.

Molecules are held together only by weak intermolecular forces, little heat energy is needed to
separate the molecules.

 Solids with a simple molecular structure are ____________.

 Solids with a simple molecular structure are usually slightly soluble or insoluble in ____________,

but soluble in ________________________.

The weak attractive forces are not strong enough to overcome the attractive forces

(________________) between water molecules. Thus, simple molecular solids are normally does not

dissolve readily in water.

In non-aqueous solvents, the molecules are held together by weak attractive forces. Thus, simple
molecular solids can mix together with the molecules of non-aqueous solvent readily.

 They are usually non-conductors of electricity

They do not contain __________________ or ___________________ to conduct electricity.

However, aqueous solutions of a few molecular substances (e.g. HCl and NH 3) conduct electricity. This
is because mobile ions form when they dissolve in water.

Giant covalent structures

 Atoms are joined by strong covalent bonds to form a giant network. There are no discrete molecules.

 Examples: diamond, graphite and quartz (_______________________)

Diamond

 Each carbon atom in diamond is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms, forming a three-
dimensional giant network.
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 To break the structure, a large number of strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms must be
broken. This explains extreme _____________ and very high melting point (3550°C) of diamond.

 Diamond cannot conduct electricity because it does not contain delocalized electrons.

Graphite

 Graphite can conduct electricity

Each carbon atom is covalently bonded to only three other carbon atoms in its layer. They are free to
move from one six-membered carbon ring to the next within a layer.

One outer electron of each carbon atom is _____________.

 Graphite is soft and has _____________ property.

Only weak van der Waals’ forces exist between the adjacent layers. The layers are able to slide over
each other.

 Graphite has a very high __________________.

It requires the breaking of strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms within the layers.

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Quartz

 Quartz is a crystalline form of silicon dioxide. Each silicon atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms. Each
oxygen atom is bonded to two silicon atoms.

 It has a very high melting point (1610°C).

 It does not conduct electricity no matter it is in the solid or molten state.

 Properties of substances with a giant covalent structure

1. They are all solids with very high melting points.
2. All (except graphite) are hard.
3. They are insoluble in any solvent.
4. All (except graphite) are non-conductors of electricity.

Giant ionic structures

The ions are regularly packed to form a continuous, three-dimensional giant ionic structure (__________).

 Structure of sodium chloride

They are packed regularly so that each ion is surrounded by six ions of the ions with opposite charge.

 Structure of caesium chloride

 Each ion is in turn surrounded by __________ ions with opposite charge.

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 Properties of ionic compounds

1. They are crystalline in the solid state.

2. They are hard but brittle.

The oppositely charged ions are held together by strong ionic bonds which makes the
compounds hard.

When under stress, the relative movement of the ions brings ions of the same charge close to
each other. This results in repulsion. Therefore, they are brittle.

3. They usually have high melting points and boiling points.

4. Most of them are soluble in water, but insoluble in _____________________.

When an ionic crystal is added to water, attraction exists between ions in the crystal and water
molecules. This attraction causes the ions to move away from the crystal and go into the water.

5. They conduct electricity when molten or in aqueous solution (______________).

Giant metallic structures

 Metallic bond forms between ______________________ and the metal ions in a metal. Metal ions
are packed closely together in a regular pattern in the metal.

i.e. A giant lattice of metal ions surrounded by a ‘sea’ of delocalized electrons.

 Properties of metals

1. Metals are good conductors of electricity.

2. Metals are good conductors of heat – heat transfer by collisions of delocalized electrons is much
faster than collisions of atoms.

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 3. Most metals are solids with high melting points.

4. Most metals have high densities.

5. Metals are malleable (can be rolled into sheets and other shapes) and ductile (can be drawn
into wires).
When we apply force to a piece of metal, the layers of ions can slide over one another. This is

because the _________________ metallic bonds continue to hold the metal ions together.

 Summary
Simple molecular Giant covalent Giant ionic Giant metallic
structure structure structure structure

H2, I2, H2O, NH3, C (diamond), C

(1) Examples NaCl, CaO, KOH All metals
(graphite), SiO2
CCl4

giant lattice of metal

small discrete giant lattice of ions surrounded by
giant lattice of ions
(2) Structure atoms a ‘sea’ of
molecules e.g. H2 e.g. NaCl
e.g. C (diamond) delocalized
electrons

(3) Bonds strong covalent covalent bonds link ionic bonds link metallic bonds link
holding bonds bind atoms atoms throughout oppositely charged the metal ions
constituent together within a the network ions throughout the (positively charged)
particles molecule; separate structure structure and the ‘sea’ of
molecules are electrons
attracted by weak (negatively charged)
intermolecular
forces (e.g. van der

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 Waals’ forces)

(4) Physical properties

(a) State under gases, volatile

solids (except
room liquids or solids of solids solids
mercury)
conditions low melting points

(b) Melting
low very high high usually high
point

(c) Hardness of
soft usually hard hard usually hard
solid form

insoluble (except
Solubility in
most are insoluble insoluble most are soluble where there is
water
reaction with water)

Solubility in
non-aqueous generally soluble insoluble insoluble insoluble
solvents

non-conductors
Note: A few (e.g. non-conductors
hydrogen chloride) when solid; good
(e) Electrical non-conductors
react with water to conductors when good conductors
conductivity (except graphite)
form a solution molten or in
which conducts aqueous solution
electricity

Public Exam Questions

MCQ
1. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.1

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2. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.3

3. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.4

4. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.7

5. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.15

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6. 2012 Paper 1A Q.1

7. 2012 Paper 1A Q.8

8. 2012 Paper 1A Q.15

9. 2013 Paper 1A Q.1

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10. 2013 Paper 1A Q.2

11. 2013 Paper 1A Q.4

12. 2013 Paper 1A Q.12

13. 2014 Paper 1A Q.1

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17
14. 2014 Paper 1A Q.2

15. 2014 Paper 1A Q.20

16. 2015 Paper 1A Q.3

17. 2015 Paper 1A Q.15

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18. 2016 Paper 1A Q.2

19. 2016 Paper 1A Q.3

20. 2017 Paper 1A Q.1

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21. 2017 Paper 1A Q.16

1. 2011 Practice Paper 1B Q.2

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21
2. 2012 Paper 1B Q.1

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3. 2013 Paper 1B Q.1a

4. 2013 Paper 1B Q.2c

5. 2013 Paper 1B Q.8b

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6. 2013 Paper 1B Q.8c

7. 2014 Paper 1B Q.1a

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25
8. 2014 Paper 1B Q.1b

9. 2015 Paper 1B Q.1a

10. 2016 Paper 1B Q.1a, b

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11. 2017 Paper 1B Q.1a

12. 2017 Paper 1B Q.3c

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 HKDSE Past Papers (MCQ)
Part II --- Microscopic World I (Solutions)

1. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.1

B
2. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.3
A
3. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.4
D
4. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.7
B
5. 2011 Practice Paper 1A Q.15
D
6. 2012 Paper 1A Q.1
D
7. 2012 Paper 1A Q.8
C
8. 2012 Paper 1A Q.15
D
9. 2013 Paper 1A Q.1
C
10. 2013 Paper 1A Q.2
C
11. 2013 Paper 1A Q.4
B
12. 2013 Paper 1A Q.12
D
13. 2014 Paper 1A Q.1
C
14. 2014 Paper 1A Q.2
D
15. 2014 Paper 1A Q.20
A
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16. 2015 Paper 1A Q.3
B
17. 2015 Paper 1A Q.15
A

18. 2016 Paper 1A Q.2

C
19. 2016 Paper 1A Q.3
D
20. 2017 Paper 1A Q.1
C
21. 2017 Paper 1A Q.16
A

HKDSE Past Papers (LQ)

Part II --- Microscopic World I (Solutions)

3. 2011 Practice Paper 1B Q.2

2. 2012 Paper 1B Q.1

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3. 2013 Paper 1B Q.1a

4. 2013 Paper 1B Q.2c

5. 2013 Paper 1B Q.8b

30
6. 2013 Paper 1B Q.8c

7. 2014 Paper 1B Q.1a

8. 2014 Paper 1B Q.1b

9. 2015 Paper 1B Q.1a

10. 2016 Paper 1B Q.1a, b

11. 2017 Paper 1B Q.1a

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12. 2017 Paper 1B Q.3c

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