Chapter 9 Structures and properties of substances

Class practice 9.1 (p.137)

(a) Tungsten has a very high melting point.
(b) Tungsten has delocalized electrons for conducting electricity.
(c) The metallic bonds between tungsten ions and delocalized electrons are non-directional.
When an external force is applied on tungsten, layers of tungsten ions slide over one
another and form new metallic bonds. The shape of tungsten changes but it does not
break.

Class practice 9.2 (p.142)

(a) Giant ionic structure
(b) Ionic bond
(c) Each caesium atom has one outermost shell electron. It tends to attain an octet
structure/the electronic arrangement of a noble gas atom by losing the outermost shell
electron through reaction with other elements.
Both caesium ions and chloride ions have octet structures, so they are very stable.
(d) (i) Yes
(ii) No

Class practice 9.3 (p.145)

(a) Covalent bond
(b) Intermolecular forces/van der Waals’ forces
(c) Sulphur does not contain delocalized electrons or mobile ions for conducting electricity.
(d) No
(e) As white phosphorus has a smaller molecular size than sulphur, the van der Waals’
forces between white phosphorus molecules are weaker than those between sulphur
molecules. Less energy is needed to separate the molecules in melting white
phosphorus.

Class practice 9.4 (p.149)

B

Class practice 9.5 (p.151)

D
Class practice 9.6 (p.154)
(a) (i) Covalent bond. This is because R forms by the sharing of outermost shell electrons
between atoms of X and Y.
(ii) X is a Group IV element. Each of its atoms requires four electrons to attain the
electronic arrangement of a neon atom. Y is a Group VI element. Each of its atoms
requires two electrons to attain the electronic arrangement of a neon atom. Hence,
the formula of R is XY2.
(b) (i) Ionic bond. This is because S forms by the transfer of electrons from atoms of Z
to atoms of Y.
(ii) Z is a Group II element. It forms Z2+ ions. Y is a Group VI element. It forms Y2−
ions. Hence, the formula of S is ZY.
(c) Yes. This is because the attraction between molecules of R and molecules of hexane is
similar to those between molecules of hexane in strength.
(d) R has a simple molecular structure while S has a giant ionic structure. A large amount
of energy is needed to break the strong ionic bonds between the Z2+ and Y2− ions, while
only a small amount of energy is needed to overcome the weak van der Waals’
forces/intermolecular forces between molecules of R. Hence, S has a higher melting
point.

Class practice 9.7 (p.156)

(a) Q
(b) S
(c) P
(d) R
(e) P

Reading to learn (p.160)

1. Aluminium has a giant metallic structure. In the structure, aluminium ions pack
closely in a regular pattern and they are surrounded by a ‘sea’ of delocalized electrons.
Metallic bonds hold the aluminium ions and the delocalized electrons together.
2. Aluminium is very malleable and ductile.
3. (a) Low density, corrosion resistant and malleable
(b) Low density, corrosion resistant and malleable
(c) Low density, corrosion resistant, ductile, good conductor of electricity
Feature reading (p.161)
1. 3
Number of
Isotope
protons neutrons electrons
Protium (a) 1 (b) 0 (c) 1
Deuterium (d) 1 (e) 1 (f) 1
Tritium (g) 1 (h) 2 (i) 1
2. (a) Other Group I elements are metals, but hydrogen is a non-metal. 1
OR
Other Group I elements form mainly ionic compounds, but hydrogen forms a lot of covalent
compounds. (1)
(Accept other reasonable answers.)
(b)

1
The compound forms by transferring an electron from an atom of Na to an atom of H. By
doing so, Na+ and H− form. Both of them have the electronic arrangement of noble gas
atoms. 1
3. Hydrogen has a very low density. Using hydrogen as rocket propellant can reduce the mass
carried by the rocket. 1
OR
Hydrogen has a very high energy density. (Do not accept burning hydrogen causes no pollution.)
(1)
However, hydrogen has a very low boiling point. It is difficult to liquefy hydrogen. 1
4. Hydrogen on Earth is locked up in compounds such as water, hydrocarbons, etc. The current
methods of producing hydrogen from these compounds require the use of energy produced from
the combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide will still be released into the atmosphere. 1
Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind power, etc. can be used to produce
hydrogen from water or hydrocarbons. 1
5. (a) Leakage of hydrogen to the atmosphere may lead to explosion. 1
(b) Building a lot of hydrogen refuelling stations 1
OR
Lowering the registration tax for hydrogen-powered motor vehicles (1)
Spending more money on the research-and-development of hydrogen-powered motor
vehicles (1)

Chapter 9 Chapter exercise (p.167)

A. Fill in the blanks (p.167)
1. giant metallic
2. delocalized; malleable; high
3. high; molten; aqueous solution; soluble; organic
4. low; non-conductors; water; soluble
5. solids; high; insoluble; graphite
6. bonding; structure
B. Multiple-choice questions (p.167)
7. B
In this structure, each ion of non-metal X is surrounded by 8 ions of metal M and vice versa.
8. C
9. D
10. C
C. Structured questions (p.168)
11. The Na+ and Cl− ions in sodium chloride are held together by strong ionic bonds while the
molecules in heptane are held together by weak van der Waals’ forces. 1
The weak attraction between the ions and heptane molecules are not strong enough to break the
attraction between the ions in the lattice. 1
12. (a) I2 1
(b) Simple molecular structure 1
(c) The iodine atoms in a molecule are bonded together by strong covalent bonds. 1
The iodine molecules in the lattice are held together by weak van der Waals’ forces. 1
(d) The attraction between iodine and ethanol molecules is strong enough to overcome the
attraction between ethanol molecules. 1
On the other hand, the weak attraction between iodine and water molecules is not strong
enough to overcome the attraction between water molecules. 1
13. (a) X: giant ionic structure; Y: giant covalent structure; Z: simple molecular structure 3
(b) X: sodium chloride; Y: diamond; Z: dry ice 3
(c) No. This is because the ions are not mobile in solid X. 1
(d) The atoms in a molecule are bonded together by strong covalent bonds. 1
The molecules in the lattice are held together by weak van der Waals’ forces/intermolecular
forces. 1
(e) Y has a higher melting point than X. This is because a larger amount of energy is needed to
break lots of strong covalent bonds between the atoms in a giant covalent structure 1
than to break many strong ionic bonds between the ions in a giant ionic structure. 1
(f) No. This is because covalent bonds holding the atoms in the lattice of Y are much stronger
than those intermolecular forces between water molecules. 1
14. (a) False
Diamond cannot be used as electrodes. 1
(b) False
Silicon is not a good conductor of heat under room conditions because there are no
delocalized electrons. 1
(Besides, silicon has a giant covalent structure.)
15. (a) B 1
(b) (i) E 1
This is because it conducts electricity in the solid state. 1
(ii) A 1
This is because it does not conduct electricity in the solid state but conducts electricity
when molten. 1
(iii) B and C 1
This is because they do not conduct electricity no matter in the solid state or when
molten. Besides, they have low melting points. 1
(iv) D 1
This is because it does not conduct electricity no matter in the solid state or when
molten, but it has a very high melting point. 1
(c) B and C 1
 (d) C 1
Wax does not conduct electricity no matter it is in the solid state or when molten. Besides,
it is a low-melting solid. 1

Chapter 9 Exam practice (p.170)

A. Multiple-choice questions (p.170)
1. D
2. C (80%)
3. D (68%)
4. C
5. B
X is a metal and Y is a non-metal. They react to form an ionic compound.
6. A
Statement (1): gold conducts electricity in the solid state while iron pyrite does not.
Statement (2): gold is malleable and ductile while iron pyrite is brittle.
Statement (3): gold and iron pyrite are both insoluble in heptane.
7. A
Since Y has a high melting point and conducts electricity in the solid state, it is a metal. Metals are good
conductors of heat.
8. D (60%)
A solution which forms from dissolving a substance with a giant ionic structure in water can conduct
electricity. Besides, substances with giant covalent structures or with giant metallic structures are
insoluble in water.
B. Structured questions (p.171)
9. (a) Giant metallic structure 1
(b) Each potassium atom has one outermost shell electron. It tends to attain an octet
structure/the electronic arrangement of an argon atom by losing the outermost shell electron
through reaction with other elements. 1
(c) Ionic bond 1
(d) (i) A large amount of energy is needed to break the strong ionic bonds between the K+
and Cl− in the structure of KCl. 1
(ii) The attraction between the ions in KCl and water molecules is strong enough to
overcome the attraction between the ions in the lattice of KCl. 1

10. HKDSE 2020 Paper 1B Q3b(iii)

11. (a) There are only weak van der Waals’ forces between layers of carbon atoms in graphite. 1
(b) Giant covalent structure 1
(c) It has delocalized electrons for conducting electricity. 1
(d) The carbon atoms are linked by strong covalent bonds throughout the structure of graphene.
Their relative movement is restricted. 1
To break graphene, a lot of strong covalent bonds must be broken. 1
(e) Yes. In the structure of graphane, all the outermost shell electrons on each carbon atom have
been used to form single covalent bonds. 1
There are no delocalized electrons in the structure of graphane. Hence, it does not conduct
electricity.