IB Chemistry Topic 2 Definitions
This page contains our IB Chemistry definitions for topic 2. By learning each one of these definitions, you will fully cover the content for IB Chemistry 'Models of Bonding & Structure'.
adduct
Two molecules bound together by a dative bond
allotrope
A crystalline form of a compound
alloy
Metallic compounds (two metals mixed) that alter the properties of the components due to distortions in the lattice
anabolic reaction
A reaction that bonds monomers together to form a macromolecule
anion
Non-metals that gain valence electrons to gain a negative charge
catabolic reaction
A reaction that breaks a macromolecule down into monomers
cation
Positive ions. Commonly metals that lose valence electrons to gain a positive charge.
Conductivity
Ability of a material to conduct electricity
coordinate covalent bond
A covalent bond formed when a single atom donates a shared pair of electrons. Also called dative covalent bond
covalent bond
The electrostatic attraction of two nuclei to a shared pair of electrons
diagmagnetism
Temporary magnetism provoked by an external magnetic field aligning paired electrons in a transition metal complex
dipole-dipole forces
The attraction between oppositely charged dipoles of two polar molecules
ductility
A metal's ability to be drawn into a wire
electron delocalizatoin
The ability of a molecule to share electrons between multiple atoms due to aligned p-orbitals
electron domain
The number of bonding and non-bonding pairs of electrons
electronegativity
Relative measure of the attraction an atom has for a shared pair of electrons when covalently bonded to another atom
ferromagnetism
Permanent magnetism due to parallel aligned unpaired electrons, exhibited in Fe, Ni, and Co
hybridization
The mixing of bonding orbitals depending on the number of electron domains
hydrogen bonding
A dipole-dipole force that occurs between compounds with a hydrogen atom, and a lone pair present on one of nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine
hydrolysis reaction
A reaction that uses water to split a disaccharide into two monosaccharides
instantaneous dipole
A dipole created by having a high concentration of electrons in a certain area at any point in time. Found in London dispersion forces
intermolecular forces
The forces between molecules
ionic bond
The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
Isoelectric
Atoms that have the same electron configuration
Lewis structure
A visual representation of covalent compounds, showing all valence electrons as dots, lines or Xs
malleability
A metal's ability to bend
metabolism
The sum of all chemical reactions taking place within an organism
metallic bond
The electrostatic attraction between a lattice of positive ions and delocalized electrons
monomer
A small molecule
non-polar bond
A bond formed when there is an electronegativity difference of <0.5, leading to no poles being formed
paramagneitsm
Temporary magnetism provoked by an external magnetic field aligning unpaired electrons in a transition metal complex
polar bond
A bond formed when there is an electronegativity difference of 0.5-1.8, leading to one atom pulling electrons more towards itself to create a negative pole on its side and a positive pole on the other atom
Polyamides
Polymers formed when a diamine reacts with a dicarboxylic acid, releasing a water molecule for every amide link formed
polyatomic ion
Ions formed from more than one element, often when an acid loses one of more hydrogen ions
Polyesters
Polymers formed when a dialcohol reacts with a dicarboxylic acid, releasing a water molecule for every ester link formed
radical
Atom with a lone electron, making it highly reactive
radical species
Atoms with a lone electron, making them highly reactive
resonance hybrids
A molecule that has more than one correct lewis structure
resultant polarity
The directional sum of polarity when a molecule has multiple polar bonds
valence shell
Outermost energy level of an atom
VSEPR theory
Valence shell electron pair repulsion theory. Allows us to determine the correct 3D shape of a covalent compound
π-bond
The sideways overlap of two p-orbitals resulting in an electron density lying above and below the internuclear axis
σ-bond
The direct head-on overlap of two orbitals resulting in an electron density lying along the internuclear axis that forms a single bond
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