Four Kinds of Substance

Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 37 of 49.

Ionic (metal + non-metal, NaCl): a lattice of ions. High melting point; conducts only when melted or dissolved.

Metallic (copper): ions in a sea of electrons. Conducts as a solid; bends.

Molecular (water, sugar): small molecules. Low melting point; no conduction.

Giant covalent (diamond, quartz): bonded through the whole crystal. Very high melting point; no conduction except graphite.

Challenge

Potassium bromide, a white crystal once used as a medicine, melts at 734 °C and conducts only when melted. Describe the bond between potassium and bromine: its kind, and which atom carries the negative charge.

Try it yourself

Bond typeDescribe the bond K–Br

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Structure and Bonding

2Covalent Bonds

Sharing Electrons Counting Valence Electrons Drawing Lewis Structures Double and Triple Bonds Lone Pairs Formal Charge Lewis Structures of Ions Recap - Molecule Builder

5Forces Between Molecules

London Forces Dipole-Dipole Forces Hydrogen Bonds Boiling Points Like Dissolves Like Recap - Boiling Contest

8Practice Problems

Recap - Polar Bonds Survey Recap - Pigments and Hexane Recap - Butanol and Ether Recap - Dots on an Oxide

3Shapes of Molecules

Electron Groups Linear and Trigonal Planar Tetrahedral Molecules Pyramids and Bent Molecules Bond Angles Recap - Shape Detective

6Metals and Giant Structures

Metallic Bonding Diamond and Graphite Giant Covalent StructuresFour Kinds of SubstanceRecap - Material Match